Alaska Airlines jet (Photo : Reuters)
A California woman with cancer was kicked off an Alaska Airlines flight from Hawaii to California. After she said that sometimes she gets weak, she could not provide a doctor's note confirming that she could fly.
Elizabeth Sedway, the 51-year-old woman on the Alaska Airlines flight, suffers from a type of blood cancer termed multiple myeloma, according to CBS San Francisco. Both Sedway and her family were asked to disembark from the plane that was bound for San Jose from Lihue.
The Californian woman was given the order after she informed the airline that she needed more time to board the aircraft, according to KNRV News 4. The airline's workers also observed her putting on a surgical mask to protect her from germs in the airport.
After the airline called a doctor, a representative from the airline boarded the airplane and questioned Sedway. Because she had not secured a doctor's note to fly, Sedway and her family were requested to depart from the plane.
The incident ironically resulted in Sedway missing two days of her weekly chemotherapy. Because she and her family had to stay overnight in Hawaii, her children missed school and her husband missed "important" meetings.
Sedway described the experience as "shocking," and revealed that she felt "humiliated." Alaska Airlines has issued an apology to her family, and promised to refund the cost of their tickets fully.
Almost 14.5 million (2014) Americans suffer from cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. It is the second most common cause of death, trailing only heart disease.
