Incident overview
On October 4, two women, Tara Kehidi and Teresa Araujo, were reportedly removed from a Spirit Airlines flight from Los Angeles to New Orleans. The removal, according to their account, was due to their choice of attire—crop tops that exposed a small portion of their midriffs.
Initially wearing sweaters, the women removed them due to the plane’s lack of air conditioning. A male flight attendant allegedly approached them, instructing them to “put something on.” When questioned about the dress code policy, the attendant reportedly left without providing clarification.
“We were just wearing crop tops, a little bit of stomach showing,” Kehidi stated. “It was confusing, and it felt discriminatory.”
Despite passengers defending them, a supervisor threatened police involvement if they did not leave. Along with a mother and her toddler, the women were escorted off the plane. Ms. Araujo shared her experience on social media, expressing her outrage over what she described as prejudice and discrimination.
Social media backlash
“This is appalling service, that in 2024 we are getting kicked out of a plane for ONE MALE flight attendant not liking our shirts,” Araujo wrote on Instagram, urging legal action.
Ms. Araujo claimed she spent $1,000 to book another flight with a different airline. The friends also asserted they offered to put their sweaters back on but were told it was too late.
“We were kind of embarrassed as well, because we felt we were being treated like… like criminals, you know. Everyone in the plane was looking at us,” Araujo told ABC7 Chicago.
The incident has ignited a debate over airline dress codes and potential biases. Spirit Airlines’ policy asks passengers to dress “appropriately” but lacks specific guidelines for midriff-baring tops.
Spirit Airlines’ response
In a statement to The Independent, a Spirit Airlines representative said, “Our Contract of Carriage includes certain clothing standards for all Guests traveling with us. We are investigating the matter, and we are in contact with the Guests about their experience.”
The Contract of Carriage, as outlined on Spirit Airlines’ website, states that passengers may be removed if their clothing is “inadequately clothed, or whose clothing is lewd, obscene, or offensive in nature.”
As the controversy unfolds, the incident raises questions about dress code enforcement and the fine line between policy and personal bias.