Crystal Shelton was flying with her 8-year-old son when the trip took an unexpected, terrible turn. Her son suffers from a nut allergy, and the two are used to advocating for his safety. After being called “unruly,” the traveling pair were removed from the Allegiant Air flight. Shelton has since filed an official complaint with the U.S. Department of Transportation.
The airline “denied accommodation, humiliated the mother and child for having requested disability accommodations, and then removed them from the airplane,” said the complaint obtained by Allergic Living.
Crystal Shelton Claims She and Her 8-Year-Old Son Were Denied Nut Allergy Accommodations
Crystal Shelton and her son were traveling from Chattanooga, Tennesee, to Tampa Bay, Florida. However, they ended up stuck in Tennessee when asked to leave the flight.
Shelton’s 8-year-old son has a severe allergy to tree nuts, specifically cashews and pistachios. Before boarding, Shelton asked the flight crew to refrain from selling/serving cashews on this flight due to her son’s allergy. The agent suggested she tell a flight attendant.
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She spoke to two different flight attendants about her request. Flight Attendant A agreed to Shelton’s request. However, Flight Attendant B “became visibly enraged,” according to the complaint, and denied the request.
The incident got even worse as Flight Attendant B “began loudly mocking Shelton and her son” and called Shelton “too stupid” to read and adhere to Allegiant Air’s policy on accommodating special needs.
In the complaint, Shelton said she and her son were called “unruly” for asking for cashews to not be served on the flight. She also claims that the flight attendant who was unwilling to accommodate their request was concerned about her expected commissions on nut sales.
Shelton said “silent tears were now running down [her son’s] face and he whispered to his mother that he was scared of what the flight attendant was going to do.”
The traveling pair was removed from the plane, and the gate agent said they were being labeled as “unruly.” He further explained that “a food allergy could cause an emergency landing.”
Shelton told Allergic Living that anyone, especially those on staff, could have intervened, but “they didn’t step in.”
“The family accuses Allegiant Air of violations under the federal Air Carrier Access Act and the Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights,” according to Allergic Living.
Shelton’s complaint outlined specific requests for the U.S. Department of Transportation to do as a result of the incident and claim. She asked for an official finding that the airline “discriminated and retaliated in violation of the Air Carrier Access Act.” Shelton also requested that the airline be fined and conduct mandatory training for flight staff. She asked for financial compensation for travel expenses and attorney fees.
Allergic Living has not received a statement from the airline. Allegiant Air has not refunded the cost of the flight tickets or travel expenses, according to the complaint.
Shelton’s son was “humiliated, terrified and under mental distress,” said the complaint. She further explained to Allergic Living that her son was “very scared” to fly again. “He was scared of airport workers and flight attendants.”
