Shocking Incident: Women Booted from Spirit Airlines Flight for Crop Tops!

LOS ANGELES (KABC) – In a bizarre incident raising questions about airline dress codes and customer treatment, a Southern California woman and her friend were allegedly kicked off a Spirit Airlines flight for wearing crop tops. This sensational occurrence unfolded during a flight from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to New Orleans, just before the start of a much-anticipated birthday celebration.

Tara Kehidi, hailing from Dana Point, detailed the event, stating, “We were wearing crop tops… just a little bit of stomach showing.” Both women had originally worn sweaters but removed them due to sweltering conditions on the aircraft, as the plane lacked functioning air conditioning before takeoff.

The situation escalated when a male flight attendant approached them, demanding that they “put something on.” Bewildered by the sudden enforcement of a dress code, Kehidi and her friend requested to see the airline's official policy on attire.

Adding to the trio's outrage, fellow passenger Carla Hager, sitting ahead of them, stood up in solidarity. “I said, ‘If your body is inappropriate, then so is mine because I also have a crop top under my sweater,’” Hager recalled. The climate on the aircraft prompted many to remove their outer layers, yet the focus solely fell on Kehidi and her friend.

In a shocking turn of events, the women and Hager's toddler were expelled from the flight without a refund, leaving them humiliated. “We felt we were being treated like… criminals, you know. Everyone on the plane was staring at us,” shared Teresa Araujo from Costa Mesa.

In response to inquiries from Eyewitness News, Spirit Airlines issued a statement highlighting their Contract of Carriage, which all passengers agree to upon booking. The airline maintains that guests must adhere to certain clothing standards, emphasizing that individuals may be removed from the aircraft if dressed “inadequately” or in a manner deemed offensive. Importantly, the contract mentions that no refunds will be given if customers are asked to leave.

Faced with this predicament, the women incurred an extra $1,000 expense to secure seats on a Delta flight, all to celebrate Tara's 30th birthday that had been put at risk. "They were treating us, honestly, like criminals – all because we were wearing crop tops," Kehidi lamented.

This situation has sparked a broader conversation about airline dress codes, individual rights, and the perception of appropriateness in travel attire. The friends are now contemplating legal action against Spirit Airlines and hope to use their experience to advocate for better treatment of passengers in similar situations. As the airline continues its investigation, many are left wondering: should clothes really determine who can fly?