A deaf individual is challenging Frontier Airlines, alleging that airline personnel removed her from a flight because she reportedly failed to follow instructions. Earlier this month, the aspiring lawyer and popular TikTok user shared a video clip detailing parts of the incident, which depicted a dispute between a flight attendant and a gate agent regarding whether she should be allowed to remain on board.
Frontier has presented an alternative account of these occurrences.
Deaf Passenger Claims Removal for Not Hearing
On March 12, Ashley Grey (@legallyswiftie13) uploaded a video showing Frontier employees seemingly disagreeing about the justification for her removal from the flight. The video captures the young woman visibly distressed and crying in embarrassment and frustration, while her indignant mother repeatedly brought up her daughter’s disability.
“Frontier Airlines kicked me off a flight because I’m deaf,” the video’s caption begins. “What is the point of listing that you’re deaf on your ticket when Frontier refuses to accommodate?”
Grey’s mother reminded a seemingly sympathetic gate agent that her daughter’s ticket clearly noted her deafness. Other travelers corroborated that Grey was unable to hear the flight attendant’s directives, which they believed was the reason for the staff’s desire to remove her. The TikToker asserts this was indeed the cause of the confrontation.
The gate agent appeared to support Grey’s position but informed a nearby observer, “It’s out of my control.”
As stated in the caption, “the flight crew doubled down” and remained firm on her removal. Tearfully, Grey confirmed she would deplane, but expressed distress over the possibility that other passengers would believe she had violated rules.
“It’s so embarrassing,” she articulated. “I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“It sucks being deaf.”
Her mother, meanwhile, was furious on her daughter’s behalf.
“I’m so angry I can barely stand,” she exclaimed.
Frontier is currently facing a class action lawsuit regarding alleged discrimination against passengers with disabilities.
Frontier Presents a Different Narrative
Frontier offered PEOPLE a significantly different justification for Grey’s removal from the flight. The airline supports its flight attendant, who asserted that “the passenger boarded with an open container which she admitted contained alcohol when questioned,” and subsequently “rapidly consumed the remaining alcohol in the cup before handing it over.”
“Bringing an open container of alcohol on board violates both Frontier policy and federal law.”
Frontier additionally asserted that Grey’s ticket did not indicate her disability. The TikToker and her legal representative contend that the flight attendant fabricated this, and Grey herself can be heard making similar accusations against the staff member in the video.
“Frontier had a choice between accountability and attack,” stated attorney Andrew Rozynski in an official press release. “It chose to go to national media with a fabricated alcohol story that every witness and the video itself contradict, and to publicly deny a disability that its own booking system and its own gate agent had already confirmed.”
Grey and her attorney requested that Frontier retract its statement and issue an apology by March 20. This deadline has passed without any communication from the airline.
Commenters on TikTok largely supported Grey, advising her to pursue legal action. After the video gained traction on Reddit, some users shared comparable experiences where they were not removed, casting doubt on Frontier’s version of events.
“I walked onto a plane carrying a beer once because I was inexperienced and walked right past everyone with no attempt to hide it,” shared r/LifeAsASuffix.
“After they closed the door to the plane the flight attendant came directly up to me and informed me I was in violation of federal laws and made a rather large stink. I apologized and handed over the beer and that was the end of it.”
“Yeah that is odd to me,” observed r/FalseStevenMcCroskey. “Like they stopped her because of the open container when boarding… then let her board and waited till later to tell her to leave? The order of events seems off.”
The Daily Dot has sought statements from both Frontier Airlines and @legallyswiftie13.
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