Two U.S. senators have sent a letter to Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian, urging him to reconsider the training of Delta employees following an incident involving a Marine Corps veteran. The veteran was reportedly asked to leave a Delta flight due to a T-shirt that highlighted military suicides. Senators Katie Britt of Alabama and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina expressed concern over the incident after Catherine Banks, the veteran in question, recounted her experience to NBC Bay Area. Banks explained that she was stopped at San Francisco International Airport on her way to visit her sister, being told by a flight attendant that her shirt, which bore the message “Do not give in to the war within. End veteran suicide,” was deemed “threatening.”
Banks was ultimately allowed back on the flight after covering the T-shirt with a sweatshirt but was asked to sit in the back rather than in her original seat. The senators stated in their letter, acquired by FOX Business, that Delta’s actions contradicted efforts to raise mental health awareness and end stigma surrounding suicides. They urged Delta to reconsider its employee training to avoid similar incidents.
In response, a Delta spokesperson mentioned on Friday that the airline is preparing a reply to the letter. The airline also previously expressed gratitude for Banks’ patience and service to the country, emphasizing Delta’s efforts to understand what transpired during the incident.
The airline’s policy, as outlined on its website, allows it to refuse or remove passengers if their conduct, attire, hygiene, or odor presents an unreasonable risk of offending or annoying others. However, the senators argued that Banks’ shirt, aimed at raising suicide awareness, should not be considered offensive or annoying.
The situation has garnered international attention, with the senators expressing their disturbance over how the veteran was treated. They concluded their letter by highlighting the importance of raising awareness about veteran suicide, noting the significant number of service members and veterans affected post-9/11.
