Marine Forced to Undress on a Flight? Delta’s Controversial Move Explained!

A Marine Corps veteran alleges that Delta Air Lines forced her to remove a shirt advocating against veteran suicide, or else she would be removed from the flight. If this claim is accurate, Delta not only owes her a public apology but should also take disciplinary action against the employee involved for both the decision and how it was communicated.

The Incident: A Veteran’s Allegation Against Delta

On October 16, 2024, Catherine Banks boarded a Delta Air Lines flight at San Francisco International Airport. Banks, a Marine Corps veteran, was wearing a shirt with the messages, “Do Not Give In To The War Within” and “End Veteran Suicide.” Shortly after boarding, a Delta employee, possibly a flight attendant or a gate agent, approached her and asked her to step off the plane.

According to Banks, the employee criticized her shirt and demanded she remove it or be ejected from the flight. In an interview with NBC Bay Area, Banks shared her conversation with the Delta employee:

“He said that shirt you’re wearing is threatening. I said, ‘Are you kidding me? I’m a Marine Corps vet. I’m going to see my Marine sister. I’ve been in the Marine Corps for 22 years and worked for the Air Force for 15 years. I’m going to visit her.’ He said, ‘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.’”

The Ultimatum and Humiliating Experience

Banks explained that she wasn’t given the option to simply cover up the shirt with a jacket. Instead, she was instructed to either remove it or turn it inside out. As she wasn’t wearing a bra, this put her in an uncomfortable position—she had to turn away and awkwardly switch her shirt on the jet bridge. After complying, Banks was allowed back on the plane, but claims that her seat was moved to the last row, even though she had paid extra for an upgraded seat with more legroom.

So far, Delta has made only a brief statement on the matter, saying, “Delta is seeking to make contact with the customer directly to hear more so we can begin to look into what occurred.”

A Closer Look at Delta’s Dress Code

Delta’s dress code, which is outlined in its contract of carriage, is relatively vague. It states that the airline “may refuse to transport or may remove passengers from its aircraft…[w]hen the passenger’s conduct, attire, hygiene or odor creates an unreasonable risk of offense or annoyance to other passengers.” This broad language gives Delta significant discretion in such situations, but it does not justify what reportedly happened in this case.

Speculation about why she was asked to remove the shirt ranges from a misunderstanding of its message to the possibility that she wasn’t wearing a bra, but nothing in the known facts supports a credible reason for this treatment.

Veteran Suicide: A Cause Worth Supporting, Not Silencing

The issue of veteran suicide is a serious and ongoing crisis in the United States. Banks’ effort to raise awareness of the problem through her shirt should be seen as a positive action. The message on her shirt was not inappropriate or offensive, but a call to recognize and address a very real problem. The Til Valhalla Project, where this shirt is sold, helps provide therapy for veterans in need, further highlighting the purpose behind it.

While there’s always the possibility that additional factors were involved, like Banks being too vocal onboard, it’s difficult to imagine a scenario where her actions justified the way she was treated. This incident brings to mind similar instances of questionable judgment by airline staff, such as when American Airlines removed multiple passengers from a flight under controversial circumstances. These incidents, while rare, do occasionally happen and highlight the need for better training and judgment among airline employees.

Conclusion: Delta Needs to Respond

This situation appears to be a clear case of misjudgment by the Delta employee involved. The airline now has the responsibility to address this quickly and publicly, clarifying what happened and ensuring that such incidents do not occur in the future.

If you or someone you know is struggling, remember that help is available. The Suicide & Crisis Lifeline operates 24/7 at 988 in the U.S., and you can also reach them online at 988lifeline.org. You don’t have to face this alone.