Brianna Solari, a nurse from Roseville, California, has reported an incident of discrimination and humiliation on a Southwest Airlines flight due to her skin condition. Solari, who suffers from neurofibromatosis (NF), a genetic disorder that causes non-cancerous tumors to grow in the nervous system and skin, was returning home after a surgical procedure to reduce her tumors when the incident occurred.
The incident took place at Hollywood Burbank Airport on a Thursday. Solari had flown to Los Angeles for her surgery and was scheduled to return to Sacramento the following day. However, her plans were disrupted when a crewmember on Southwest Flight 3471 allegedly asked her to leave the plane.
According to Solari, she was asked about her medical conditions or diseases, to which she responded that she had recently undergone surgery. She alleges that the crewmember then made a phone call to a doctor associated with the airline. Despite her request to speak directly with the doctor, Solari claims she was prevented from doing so.
The nurse, who had visible tumors on her face and arms, expressed her feelings of humiliation and embarrassment due to the incident. She stated that the situation was already difficult enough due to her condition and the public’s reaction to her appearance.
Following the incident, Solari was required to obtain a clearance letter from her surgeon to fly. She was then placed on a different flight back to Sacramento. Despite being offered a $500 flight voucher and a $45 meal voucher by the airline, Solari’s perspective on Southwest Airlines has significantly changed.
In a statement, a Southwest spokesperson expressed regret over the incident and extended their deepest apologies to Solari. They acknowledged that while clearance for Solari to travel was eventually received, it was not in time for her original flight’s departure. The airline has rebooked her on a later flight and is following up with her directly to discuss the situation.
Despite the airline’s response, Solari is considering legal action. She believes her medical privacy was violated and that the incident was a clear case of discrimination.