Army vet not allowed to hang jacket on U.S. Airways flight
By Amy Graff
Thousands of people took to Twitter to express their outrage over a U.S. Airways flight attendant who refused to allow an Army veteran to hang his decorated jacket on a recent flight.
On Flight 1930 between Portland, Ore., and Charlotte, N.C., First Sgt. Albert Marle asked a flight attendant to hang his navy-blue Army Ranger and combat veteran’s jacket to stop it from wrinkling, according to WSOC-TV. The unnamed attendant refused saying the closet is reserved for first-class passengers.
Marle didn’t question her response and without making any fuss he politely returned to his seat.
Passengers who witnessed the incident did make a fuss, however, offering Marle their seats in first-class so he could hang his jacket.
Passengers also took to Twitter blasting the airline for disrespecting a member of the military.
First-class passenger Brian Kirby tweeted: “Do not fly US Air, I have just witnessed a US solider heavily decorated disgraced. Will be sharing with other media outlets ASAP.”
Brian’s wife, Laura Kirby, chimed in: “@USAirways is it really in your policy to disrespect brave men such as Sergeant Marle? Flight attendant Ava of US 1930 from PDX to CLT.”
Quickly the tweets went viral and thousands of Twitter users, many with handles suggesting they’re vets, responded in disgust and said they’d never fly U.S. Airways again.
Lauderdale Vet wrote: “@Bkirby72 @USAirways I’ll definitely remember this the next time I have to choose an airline.”
Mathew S Harrison tweeted: “@USAirways @Bkirby72 This veteran will never fly USAir ever again. They are on my official boycott list FOREVER! #BOYCOTTUSAirways”
The Kirbys contacted WSOC-TV with the story. “It may not have seemed like a big deal and he certainly wouldn’t have made a big deal about it but it’s important someone stands up and says this is not correct it needs to be fixed,” Brian told the news station.
WSOC-TV reached out to Marle and his family and his parents said their son doesn’t want to attract attention to himself.
U.S. Airways released an apology: "We apologize for the situation and are reviewing the incident internally. We have a long and proud history of serving our military members and hold the men and women who serve our country in the highest regard."
The airline claims the flight attendant received four requests to hang jackets on the flight and the closet was full, but passengers are saying the attendant didn’t explain this on the actual flight.
“Her response wasn’t that there’s not space in the coat closet or ‘I’ve hung too many jackets up.’ It was just simply, ‘Our airline policy says I’m not going to do it, so I’m not going to do it,’” Brian Kirby told WSOC-TV. “I was really appalled at not only the way she looked at him but the way she spoke to him in an angry type of attitude.”
