A California nurse is threatening to sue Southwest Airlines after being pulled off of a flight due to her genetic disorder. According to Brianna Solari of Roseville, she was ordered off of Southwest Flight 3471 at about noon Thursday by a crew member at BUR (Hollywood Burbank Airport).
According to Solari, she was on her way home after undergoing surgery related to the condition. Neurofibromatosis is an incurable genetic disorder causing the growth of tumors in one’s nervous system. She told KCRA that these can be tiny or enormous and disfiguring.
Solari says a flight attendant approached her and inquired if she had any medical conditions or diseases. Solari says she told the flight attendant she previously underwent surgery and that she considers her own medical information to be private. Solari says the crew member then phoned a doctor contracted by the airline but refused to let her discuss it with him personally.
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Asked to leave the plane due to “some concerns,” Solari ultimately missed her flight. She said she had to get a letter from her surgeon describing her condition and allowing her to fly. She was later permitted to board another flight to Sacramento, though flight details weren’t available.
This was a very humiliating, embarrassing, and shameful situation for Solari, with visible tumors already on her face and arms, which attract much attention. She stated she will never fly again with Southwest Airlines, adding the situation could have been handled more professionally.
According to the report, Solari received from the airline a $500 flight voucher and a $45 meal voucher. She hasn’t ruled out taking legal action, KCRA reported. Solari said that the incident was discrimination and it was a violation of medical privacy to say she should have only needed to tell them about the recent surgery.