Passengers on a Spirit Airlines flight have alleged that they were removed from the plane by a male flight attendant because they were wearing crop tops. The incident involved four passengers, including a toddler, who were reportedly asked to deboard the aircraft due to the clothing worn by two of the passengers. The situation came to light when Spirit Airlines passenger Teresa shared her experience in a series of videos on October 6, which quickly went viral on Instagram.
In her post, Teresa described how a male flight attendant, whom she labelled as “sexist,” insisted that she and her friend cover up or disembark the plane. Despite the passengers and flight staff apparently agreeing that their outfits were not in violation of the airline’s dress code, the male attendant remained adamant about his decision. The passengers were eventually escorted off the plane by a supervisor, who allegedly assured them of rebooking their flights, but then failed to do so.
The incident, captured in Teresa’s videos, showed the escalating tension between the passengers and airline staff as they were being removed from the aircraft. Other passengers also joined in to defend the women wearing crop tops, expressing disbelief at the situation. Teresa further claimed that they were denied the opportunity to rebook their flights or receive a refund, forcing her to spend $1,000 on a new flight with a different airline. The passengers involved, including the mother and toddler, expressed their dismay at the treatment received from the airline staff.
Spirit Airlines has stated that they are investigating the incident and are in contact with the passengers to understand their perspective. The airline’s Contract of Carriage includes guidelines on clothing standards for all passengers, with provisions to remove individuals whose attire is deemed inappropriate. Teresa’s Instagram post has garnered support from fellow passengers and social media users, highlighting the perceived prejudice and discrimination faced by the passengers. The Independent has reached out to Teresa for further comment on the matter.