Blind Woman Says She And Service Dog Were Kicked Off American Airlines Flight
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FRANKLIN, Maine (CBSDFW.COM/AP) - A blind woman from Maine says she and her service dog were kicked off an American Airlines flight after she requested a different seat.
Sue Martin, of Franklin, says she, her husband and her guide dog boarded a plane bound for Dallas at Reagan National Airport near Washington on March 1. She says she asked a flight attendant if she could be moved to a seat in another row that had room for the German shepherd.
Martin says the flight attendant refused. A man in first class later offered his seat, which Martin accepted. That's when she says she was asked to leave by an American Airlines employee who said her presence on the plane was unsafe.
An American Airlines spokesperson sent CBS11 this statement on the matter.
We apologize to Ms. Martin for the recent experience she had on American Airlines. We take these allegations very seriously, and are thoroughly investigating. We are also in contact with Ms. Martin to gather additional details of what transpired during her recent journey with us.
Service animals are welcome on all of our flights. American is also a proud supporter of the Puppies in Flight (PIF) program. In conjunction with Assistance Dogs International (ADI), our team members volunteer to become trained to work with assistance dogs and take them on transports and test flights – short turnaround trips. This helps acclimate service animals to air travel.
(© Copyright 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)