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Woman, 21, says airline staffers threatened to remove her from flight because of 'inappropriate' crop top
A woman says she was forced to cover up her “inappropriate” outfit on a flight.
Emily O’Connor, 21, from England, claimed a staffers from Thomas Cook, a travel deals company and airline, threatened to remove her from a flight she boarded from Birmingham in the United Kingdom to Tenerife, Spain.
Flying from Bham to Tenerife, Thomas Cook told me that they were going to remove me from the flight if I didn’t “cover up” as I was “causing offence” and was “inappropriate”. They had 4 flight staff around me to get my luggage to take me off the plane. pic.twitter.com/r28nvSYaoY
— Emily O’Connor (@emroseoconnor) March 12, 2019
just a bit more context for those asking: wore this through the airport (security, passport control etc), boarded the plane, told to cover up by the greeting staff, sat down, flight manager and 4 flight staff said I would be removed unless I put a jacket on…
— Emily O’Connor (@emroseoconnor) March 12, 2019
I was given a jacket by my cousin sitting at the front of the plane and they did not leave until I physically put it on. They made comments over the speaker about the situation and left me shaking and upset on my own.
— Emily O’Connor (@emroseoconnor) March 12, 2019
“It was so mortifying,” she tells Yahoo UK. “I was so upset and they could clearly see that yet they continued to note how inappropriate and offensive I was. I was really close to crying.”
Many on social media expressed their anger over the situation in support of the young woman.
I’d raise hell over the way you’ve been treated. It’s out of order.
— Catherine Yeboah 🇬🇭 (@catyeboah) March 13, 2019
What a dreadful way to treat a young lady , absolutely nothing offensive in what you are wearing .Thomas Cook cabin crew should be taken to task over this.
— Mal Yates (@MalcolmYates11) March 13, 2019
It’s just a crop top!! And just a female going to a HOT destination.. she expected to wear a jumper?! Think all women who have flights already booked with @ThomasCookCares should wear one of these tops and the crew should be sacked for this!!
— Julianne Chambers (@juliaaachambers) March 13, 2019
Others — including some who claimed to work for airlines — commented that they had seen people wearing significantly less on flights.
This is awful! I was on a flight to Portugal and there was a hen do on board and they were wearing a lot less than you were. @ThomasCookCares I think we need some answers, the way this girl was treated was absolutely disgusting.
— Chantelle.👻🎃🔮⚰🖤🦇🕸💚🕷👽☠🧡 (@alanashbysbitch) March 13, 2019
I’m crew myself and would not think twice to ask you to cover up, there is no policy on what you can and cannot wear! That is awful to see that the crew on board made you feel that way, disgusting!
— Jade Charlotte (@jadecharlottex) March 13, 2019
I work at an airport, people come through dressed like this all the time? I’ve seen guys wearing less on stag do’s for fun and not once have I ever heard of someone not being allowed on for inappropriate wear? Come on @ThomasCookUK not cool.
— ǝıןʎɐz (@ZaylieLincoln38) March 13, 2019
A spokesperson from Thomas Cook tells Yahoo UK they are “sorry” for how the situation was handled.
“We are sorry that we upset Ms O’Connor. It’s clear we could have handled the situation better. In common with most airlines we have an appropriate attire policy,” the statement reads. “This applies equally to men and women of all ages without discrimination. Our crews have the difficult task of implementing that policy and don’t always get it right.”
