American Airlines Apologizes to Doctor Ordered to Cover Shorts

She says she was 'humiliated' in front of son
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 10, 2019 3:11 AM CDT
American Airlines Apologizes to Doctor Ordered to Cover Shorts
An American Airlines jet prepares to land at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport in Grapevine, Texas.   (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

American Airlines has apologized to a doctor who says she was humiliated when airline workers ordered her to cover up an outfit they deemed inappropriate. "My shorts covered EVERYTHING but apparently was too distracting to enter the plane," family medicine specialist Tisha Rowe tweeted after the June 30 incident. "When defending my outfit I was threatened with not getting back on the flight unless I walked down the aisle wrapped in a blanket." She also tweeted photos of her outfit. Rowe, who was traveling from Kingston to Miami, says she ended up wearing a blanket after a flight attendant told her it was the only way she would be allowed to fly, ABC reports. She says the incident left her 8-year-old son in tears.

Rowe says she gave herself a "girl check" before boarding to make sure the outfit was not too revealing. "Growing up, I lived in a very conservative household. Like, if my dad thought my shorts were too short, I was not leaving the house," she tells Business Insider. "So that's just something that I've gotten into the habit of doing." She says she believes she was targeted because she is black and has a "very curvaceous body." The airline, which prohibits "offensive clothing" on flights, says it has given Rowe and her son a full refund and is investigating the incident. "We are proud to serve customers of all backgrounds and are committed to providing a positive, safe travel experience for everyone who flies with us," a spokesperson said. (This man sued an airline after becoming trapped in a "nightmarish condition.")

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