Lawyer says airline banned him from flight because crew didn't 'feel comfortable' with him
Virgin America is apologizing after an incident involving a prominent Iranian American lawyer, a revolving door and a skittish flight crew.
The lawyer, Bobby Abtahi, says he was told he couldn’t board a flight going from New York to his home in Dallas because the crew didn’t “feel comfortable” with him, report the New York Times and the Dallas Morning News.
When Abtahi asked why, he learned his troubles began with a revolving door. The gate agent told Abtahi he had cut off a flight attendant in a revolving door when he arrived at the airport. Abtahi switched to an American Airlines flight to get home.
He chronicled his ordeal in a series of tweets.
Virgin America apologized in a statement, saying it believed the incident was the result of a misunderstanding. The airline offered Abtahi a refund, as well as two free flights. Abtahi says he would like the free flights donated to Human Rights Initiative, which provides legal services to immigrants who survived violence.
I got a nice sincere apology from @VirginAmerica. You are now permitted to calm down Internet.
— Bobby Abtahi (@BobbyAbtahi) December 1, 2015
