United Airlines passenger forced to change T-shirt with anti-bombing message

A passenger's flight with United Airlines took an unexpected turn when he was allegedly told to change his T-shirt before takeoff. Sam Saadeh, traveling from Atlanta to Newark on June 4, reported that a flight supervisor asked him to deplane. The reason given was that a crew member found the message on his shirt, "Bombing kids is not self defense," to be offensive.

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I was very confused.

Saadeh expressed confusion and surprise at the request. According to his account, the supervisor presented him with a stark choice: "You have two options: either change your shirt, or you don't get on this flight." He stated he complied to reach his destination but described the experience as humiliating, feeling that no clear explanation of the violated rule was provided.

The T-shirt's message, according to Saadeh, who is of Palestinian descent, was not directed at any specific group but served as a general plea against violence targeting children. The organization that produced the shirt, Wear the Peace, shared Saadeh's account on Facebook.

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The flight attendant considers your shirt offensive. I asked why, and the answer was: 'You have two options: either change your shirt, or you don't get on this flight.'

United Airlines confirmed that Saadeh traveled on the flight after changing his attire but offered no further details. The airline's contract of carriage states it can deny boarding to passengers who are "improperly dressed or wearing obscene, indecent or offensive clothing." Saadeh has since filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Transportation and is considering legal action.

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This customer traveled as scheduled after changing his shirt. That is all we have to say.