It’s another fun day on the flight line watching the planes fly by. As a pilot’s wife, I have seen some insanity in the not-so-friendly skies.

In fact, it seems as if sometimes, passengers find issues with the strangest things and flight attendants are forced to deal with contentious travelers on the regular. But what happens when a passenger has to deal with a contentious flight attendant?

This story comes to us from San Francisco (of course), where a Delta flight attendant found a Marine veteran’s shirt very “threatening”. This “threatening” message, eventually caused the passenger to deplane before take-off.

Catherine Banks, a 22-year veteran of the Marines, was onboard the Delta flight at San Francisco International Airport to visit family on Oct. 16, when she wore her dark gray outfit and sat in her extra-legroom seat (for which) she paid extra.

‘Do Not Give In To The War Within. End Veteran Suicide,’ Banks’ shirt read.”-The New York Post

The shirt is sold by the Til Valhalla Project as part of the “22 a day collection,” which brings awareness to the estimated 22 veterans who commit suicide each day.

A “threatening” message, indeed.

I feel like they just took my soul away. I’m not a bad person, and that T-shirt, I should be allowed to support myself and veterans.”-Catherine Banks

The Delta flight attendant asked her to change her shirt, obviously threatened by the words “the war within” (GASP! A Trump phrase) and ignoring the “end veteran suicide” piece. Banks was eventually allowed back on the plane but had to move out of the seat with the extra legroom (that she paid for) to sit back by the lav.

That’s how woke we’ve become. That was @Delta Airlines way to say “Thank you for your service”. GTFO of our plane

— /chemicalbeats (@TareDoare) October 19, 2024

So much for expressing a heartfelt sentiment. Personally, I would see someone wearing a flag in solidarity with a terrorist country more of a “threat”, but that’s just my humble opinion:

Yeah, but their flight attendants can wear terrorist hijack-supporting pins, no problem.https://t.co/LrrZYH1mV5

— Missile Dodger (@BalanceEven) October 19, 2024

To be fair, Delta has recently asked their flight attendants to refrain from wearing flags of other nations on their lapels.

We haven’t forgotten. Palestinians invented and perfected air travel terrorism.
BOAC Flight 775
TWA Flight 741
El Al Flight 219
Swiss Air Flight 100
Pan Am Flight 93
TWA Flight 841
Lufthansa Flight 649
Air France Flight 139
Pan Am Flight 73
Egypt Air Flight 648
El Al Flight 253…

— (((Sylvester))) ✡️ (@SylvesterSababa) July 11, 2024

Yeah. They’re the victims.

Delta Airlines can refuse to transport passengers if their “conduct, attire, hygiene or odor creates an unreasonable risk of offense or annoyance to other passengers,” according to the airline.

Apparently, someone was “triggered” by Catherine Banks’ shirt. Banks is a 22-year Marine Corps veteran. She was going to see her sister, also a Marine Corps veteran. She tried to explain this to the male flight attendant:

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.”

I don’t care about your service speaks volumes, doesn’t it? Hey, Delta, this is not a good look. Now, we know nothing about this flight attendant, but if you talk to any veteran job any branch of the Armed Forces, each and every one of them would be able to name a person they have served with who has taken his or her own life. If the veteran does not know anyone personally, he or she for sure knows of someone who does.

“I don’t care about your service, I don’t care about her service“, says a flight attendant. A shirt addressing veteran suicide has caused “unreasonable risk of offense or annoyance to other passengers“. Please step to the back of the plane if you want to continue flying on this plane, ma’am.

I, for one, hope Catherine Banks sues Delta into oblivion.

Til Valhalla Project delivers surprise memorial plaques to families of fallen service members. Proceeds from the sales on the organization’s website fund the plaques and personal delivery of these tributes to the families. Go support their page, if you are so inclined.

And, Delta? Perhaps you’d like to make a monetary donation to transport these plaques and the kind souls delivering them to heartbroken families? Make sure the flight attendant puts them in First Class. It is the least you can do. Keep Climbing. V-R, Positive Rate, Gear Up!

Feature Photo Credit: airplane landing via Pixabay, cropped and modified