FacebookAlaska Airlines is publicly apologizing to Elizabeth Sedway, after the cancer-stricken mother was kicked off of a flight for not having a doctor's note.
Sedway, who suffers from a cancer of the white blood cells called multiple myeloma, was flying back with her family to her home near San Jose, Calif., when she told a gate agent that she needed extra time to board because she sometimes "feels weak."
According to NBC News, a flight attendant called a doctor who concluded that Sedway was unable to fly. It wasn't until after her entire family was seated that they were told she wasn't able to join them on the flight.
Today, we were at gate 8 ready to depart on Alaska Airlines for San Jose. An airline employee saw me seated in the handicap section of the boarding area. She asked me if I needed anything. The first time. I said no. The second time, O said, well I might need a bit of extra time to board, sometimes I feel weak. Because I said the word weak, the Alaska Airlines employee called a doctor, she claimed was associated with the airlines. After we board the plane. An Alaska representative boarded the plane, and told us I could not fly without a note from a doctor stating that I was cleared to fly. The video is of us being removed from the plane.
Posted by Elizabeth Sedway on Monday, April 6, 2015
Sedway filmed video of her and her family as they were escorted off the airplane, and posted it on her Facebook page shortly thereafter.
"It's April 6. I have multiple myeloma. They're taking me off the airplane because I don't have a doctor's note saying I can fly," she's heard saying on camera. "I'm being removed as if I'm a criminal or contagious, because I have cancer."
Bobbi Egan, Alaska Airlines' spokesperson, told E! News the following statement:
"We regret the inconvenience Ms. Sedway experienced yesterday. Her family's tickets have been refunded and we'll cover the cost of her family's overnight accommodations in Lihue. Our employee had the customer's well-being in mind when we sought the advice of trained medical professionals."
Sedway reacted to the airline's response, saying, "They need to polish their policies, apply some common sense."