Brianna Solari, a nurse hailing from Roseville, California, has recently shared her experience of alleged discrimination and humiliation on a Southwest Airlines flight due to her skin condition. Solari is afflicted with neurofibromatosis (NF), a genetic disorder that results in the growth of non-cancerous tumors in the nervous system and skin. She was on her way home after undergoing a surgical procedure to reduce her tumors when the incident took place.
The incident unfolded at Hollywood Burbank Airport on a Thursday. Solari had traveled to Los Angeles for her surgery and was due to return to Sacramento the next day. However, her travel plans were interrupted when a crewmember on Southwest Flight 3471 reportedly asked her to exit the plane.
Solari recounts being questioned about her medical conditions or diseases, to which she replied that she had recently had surgery. She alleges that the crewmember subsequently made a phone call to a doctor affiliated with the airline. Despite her request to converse directly with the doctor, Solari claims she was denied the opportunity.
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 challenging enough due to her condition and the public’s reaction to her appearance.
In the aftermath of the incident, Solari was required to secure a clearance letter from her surgeon to fly. She was then accommodated on a different flight back to Sacramento. Despite being offered a $500 flight voucher and a $45 meal voucher by the airline, Solari’s opinion of Southwest Airlines has been significantly affected.
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 contemplating legal action. She believes her medical privacy was violated and that the incident was a clear case of discrimination.