A video that captured a woman being kicked off an Alaska Airlines flight for wearing a crop top deemed to be “inappropriate” has gone viral.
Ray Lin Howard, who is known by the stage name Fat Trophy Wife, said Alaska Airlines employees removed her from a flight because they said her outfit was not appropriate for travel. The airline staff insists that her outfit was too revealing.
Although the incident happened in August 2021, it was recently reposted on TikTok. Howard recorded the interview with the police who escorted her off the flight.
In the clip, Howard says she was wearing a sports bra and black leggings when a flight attendant requested she put on a t-shirt during a flight last year.
She chose to put on a high-necked pink crop top on, but the flight attendant returned and told her: “You can’t wear this, your stomach is showing, and it is inappropriate.”
According to Ms. Howard, Alaska flight staff approached her three times to complain about her outfit.
“I said, ‘I am covered up, I’m fine’ but she kept going. I said, ‘If you are going to kick me off, then kick me off. I have done what you have asked me to do, I want you to leave me alone’.” Howard told the police officer.
The officer acknowledged that Howard did not commit a criminal offense, he said that the issue was regarding the airline’s dress code.
The passenger replied: “I looked it up, I am within the dress code. I am being harassed and now I am being detained. You pulled me off the plane in front of my child… I wore an outfit, that is what happened.”
“The dress code on Alaska is casual, and the requirement is simply a neat and well-groomed appearance. Clothing that is soiled or tattered and bare feet are never acceptable,” Alaska Airlines said.
“You are expected to use good judgment, but customer service agents will have the final authority to refuse travel for inappropriate attire or appearance,” the carrier added.
The video has garnered more than one million views. Thousands of social media users have commented on the incident.
Recently, a spokesperson for Alaska Airlines said the company is in contact with Ms. Howard. “We are committed to finding out what happened and taking the appropriate actions. It is our goal to provide caring service to all of our guests. When we don’t live up to that goal, we do everything we can to make it right.”
