A Marine Corps veteran had an unexpected and upsetting experience last Wednesday, October 16, at San Francisco International Airport. Catherine Banks, who served in the Marine Corps for 22 years and then worked for the Air Force for 15 years, was removed from a Delta Air Lines flight due to her shirt.

Catherine had just settled into her seat, ready for her flight to visit her Marine sister, when a flight attendant approached her with surprising news. She recalled, “A male flight attendant was saying, ‘Ma’am, ma’am.’ I looked around, like, ‘Who was he talking to?’ And it was me. He said, ‘You need to get off the plane,’ and I was like, ‘What did I do?’”

Shocked and unsure of the problem, she followed the flight attendant’s instructions and exited the plane. It wasn’t until she reached the jet bridge that he finally explained the issue.

“He said that shirt you’re wearing is threatening,” Catherine explained. Her shirt carried a message that read: “Do not give in to the war within. End veteran suicide.” She immediately defended herself, stating, “Are you kidding me? I’m a Marine Corps vet. I’m going to see my Marine sister. I’ve been in the Marine Corps for 22 years and worked for the Air Force for 15 years.

I’m going to visit her.” However, her reasoning didn’t seem to matter. The flight attendant reportedly told her, “I don’t care about your service, and I don’t care about her service. The only way you’re going to get back on the plane is if you take it off right now.”

Faced with no other choice, Catherine had to remove her shirt right there on the jet bridge in front of the flight attendant. Since she wasn’t wearing a bra, she turned her back to him as she changed shirts, feeling humiliated.

“I feel like they just took my soul away,” she shared later. “I’m not a bad person, and that T-shirt, I should be allowed to support myself and veterans.” The shirt, she believed, was a way to show support for veterans struggling with mental health and the fight against veteran suicide.

After complying with the flight attendant’s demand, Catherine was allowed to reboard the plane. However, to add to her disappointment, she wasn’t allowed to return to the seat with extra legroom that she had paid for. Instead, she was sent to the back of the plane. The delay caused her to miss her connecting flight, further adding to her distress.

Following the incident, Delta Air Lines reached out to Catherine to resolve the matter. A spokesperson from the airline commented, “the matter with the customer has been resolved.” According to Delta’s Contract of Carriage, the airline can remove passengers if their “conduct, attire, hygiene, or odor creates an unreasonable risk of offense or annoyance to other passengers.”

What are your thoughts on this story? It certainly raises questions about how policies are enforced and whether veterans like Catherine should face such treatment for supporting awareness about mental health. Share your opinion below!