Passenger ‘treated like a fat criminal’ and thrown off flight for being overweight

Chris was booted off an American Airlines flight for being overweight

A MAN has shared his outrage after being kicked off a plane for being overweight.

Chris Shelley claims he was booted off an American Airlines flight with no explanation other than “anyone two inches over the seat can’t sit on the aircraft”.

The Huntington Beach engineer said: “The worst part was being treated as if I was some sort of criminal. Not only a criminal, but a fat criminal.”

Chris, who flies more than 100,000 miles a year, was sat on board a flight from Dallas to Orange County on Friday when an elderly petite woman sat in the aisle seat next to him.

He said: “She was clearly not particularly happy, got up and left and went towards the front of the aircraft.”

The retired marine said he thought nothing of it until “a young gentleman in a vest with an American Airlines emblem on it turns to me and says: ‘Sir! You need to take your things and deplane immediately. Come with me.”

The mortified passenger said he was “in shock” when the employee told him the woman had complained he was too big for his seat.

He said: “They told me anyone over two inches in the seat can’t sit on the aircraft.”

Chris says he was shocked the airline offered him no solution before throwing him off board, telling him simply “get off the plane!”

After begging the employee he was allowed to ask the woman to switch seats and was able to re-board the plane.

American Airlines sent two apology emails and a spokesperson said the company has launched an investigation. the sun.co.uk

Follow us on Twitter on @FingazLive and on Facebook – The Financial Gazette