Nurse Says She Was Kicked Off Flight For Medical Disorder, Alleges Discrimination

Brianna Solari says she was removed from a Southwest Airlines flight in Burbank, CA earlier this month after airline staff told her that her appearance was making other passengers uncomfortable. Solari’s body is covered in non-cancerous tumors that are caused by the genetic disorder, neurofibromatosis. She recalls feeling embarrassed by the incident and states that the airline crew violated her medical privacy. 

“I lack an enzyme, which is neurofibromin, which is a tumor suppressor. So tumors grow along nerves and can be tiny, little pinpoint tumors, or they can be enormous. Some of them can be very disfiguring,” She told local news.

Solari was visiting Las Angeles to have surgery to reduce the size of the tumors. She recalls the incident, 

“I exited the airplane, and they said, ‘Well, there’s been some concerns. Do you have any medical conditions, diseases?’ And I said, ‘No, I had surgery.’ That’s really none of their business what’s going on… And they said, ‘OK,’ so then he got on the telephone with somebody.”

According to Solari, the crew member spoke to a doctor contracted with the airline, however, the doctor refused to speak to Solari. “It’s really hard to quantify what it’s like to be singled out for a medical condition and for how you look, something that I really can’t help. I did try to cover up as best I could.”

After obtaining a letter from her surgeon clearing her to fly, Solari was able to re-book her flight home. 

A Spokesperson from Southwest Airlines provided the following statement to Nurse.org on 8/5/24: 

“We are disheartened to learn of the Customer’s experience flying with us and extend our deepest apologies for the inconvenience. Even though our Team ultimately received clearance for the Customer to travel, we weren’t able to do so in time for the flight’s departure. We rebooked her on a later flight, offered a travel voucher for a future flight along with a meal voucher, and we’re following up with her directly to discuss the situation.”