A mother’s ordeal on a United Airlines flight has gone viral after she shared her distressing experience involving her disabled son and the airline’s handling of his critical medical equipment.
In a TikTok video that has drawn over 1 million views, Melissa Sotomayor described the incident that took place during a return flight from Tampa, Florida, to New Jersey.
Sotomayor’s son, who depends on a tracheostomy (trach), ventilator, and oxygen concentrator for breathing, also suffers from vision and hearing problems.
According to Sotomayor, although the flight to Florida was uneventful, problems arose on the return journey.
She said she brought all necessary medical documentation to ensure a smooth trip.
However, a male flight attendant demanded that her son be disconnected from his ventilator and oxygen concentrator during takeoff, citing a need to secure the devices.
Despite explaining that the equipment was essential to her son’s survival, and after showing the required documentation, the situation escalated.
Two more flight attendants and the captain approached her, reiterating the demand that the critical equipment be removed.
Sotomayor refused, citing the risk to her son’s health. In her video, she revealed that airline staff suggested her son would be fine once they reached a safe altitude and even told her she might need to change seats if she didn’t comply.
The ordeal caused an hour-long delay, during which passengers began to speak out, describing the incident as “harassment” and expressing outrage at the crew’s behavior.
The situation was eventually resolved when the captain announced that the plane had been cleared for takeoff and allowed Sotomayor to proceed as planned. However, she expressed feeling “humiliated” and “distraught” by the way she was treated.
After the flight, Sotomayor reported the incident to United Airlines’ corporate office, but the company defended the crew’s actions, stating they were following FAA guidelines.
The viral video prompted a wave of support and backlash online. Many viewers called for legal action, suggesting Sotomayor consult a lawyer specializing in ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) cases. One user commented, “The fact that they thought taking your son off OXYGEN and a ventilator was okay is INSANE.” Others even called for a boycott of United Airlines.
“Please retain an attorney that specializes in ADA. MAKE ALL THE NOISE. Nobody should have to go through this,” one person urged. Another wrote, “The flight attendants cannot ask for documentation at boarding. That’s already provided. Lawyer up, girl!”
As of now, United Airlines has not responded to media requests for comment.