Woman is asked to cover up or get down by the Thomas Cook Airlines crew

Thomas Cook Airlines recently told a passenger to either cover up or to get off their flight that was travelling from Birmingham, England to the Canary Islands.

21-year-old Emily O'Connor, who is a resident of Birmingham, was taking a flight from her hometown to Tenerife, Spain on March 12. Emily, dressed in a black crop top with spaghetti straps and high-waisted orange pants was asked by the crew of the flight to cover up or deboard.

The Thomas Cook crew told Emily that her outfit was inappropriate and was causing offence to her fellow passengers.

Shocked by the incident, O'Connor shared the entire incident on Twitter.

Flying from Bham to Tenerife, Thomas Cook told me that they were going to remove me from the flight if I didn’t cover up as I was causing offence and was inappropriate. They had 4 flight staff around me to get my luggage to take me off the plane. pic.twitter.com/r28nvSYaoY Emily O'Connor (@emroseoconnor) March 12, 2019

Emily was also abused by another passenger in the flight, but the crew just stood there and took no action.

To top it off they allowed a man hurl abuse at me whilst the Flight manager and 4 air staff stood and said nothing. Emily O'Connor (@emroseoconnor) March 12, 2019

Emily wore this through the security check and nobody said a word.

just a bit more context for those asking: wore this through the airport (security, passport control etc), boarded the plane, told to cover up by the greeting staff, sat down, flight manager and 4 flight staff said I would be removed unless I put a jacket on... March 12, 2019

Emily also asked all the passengers sitting in the flight if her attire was offending anyone. Nobody raised a problem, but one man abused her and asked her to put a jacket on.

asked the plane (as they were all listening now anyway) if I was offending anyone, no-one said a word. The manager then went to get my bag to remove me from the flight. A man then shouted Shut up you pathetic woman. Put a f*cking jacket on- the staff said nothing to him Emily O'Connor (@emroseoconnor) March 12, 2019

Emily finally wore a jacket that was given to her by her cousin.

I was given a jacket by my cousin sitting at the front of the plane and they did not leave until I physically put it on. They made comments over the speaker about the situation and left me shaking and upset on my own. Emily O'Connor (@emroseoconnor) March 12, 2019

Emily also wrote, "I was physically shaking, and they could see that, yet they continued to sexualise and ridicule me. It was the worst experience of my life."

According to the Washington Post, the airline issued a statement, "We are sorry that we upset Ms O’Connor. It’s clear we could have handled the situation better. In common with most airlines, we have an appropriate attire policy. This applies equally to men and women of all ages without discrimination. Our crews have the difficult task of implementing that policy and don’t always get it right."

This incident has Twitter torn into two different groups. One, who are supporting Emily and her attire; and the other, that thinks the airline was right in doing what they did.

I’m crew myself and would not think twice to ask you to cover up, there is no policy on what you can and cannot wear! That is awful to see that the crew on board made you feel that way, disgusting! Jade Charlotte (@jadecharlottex) March 13, 2019

Emily has quite a few supporters.

I think you look lovely and appropriately dressed. I wore a similar outfit on a flight to Bahrain when I was about your age ten year ago (whoops!) but pretty sure Tenerife doesn’t have sharia law! Holly Sutton (@Hollyonline) March 13, 2019

Twitter user Trissha also supported Emily, "i literally flew from Bham to DUBAI in a bralet smaller than yours and some joggers on Emirates.. if that's acceptable on an Emirates flight then ?? who the F**K do Thomas Cook think they are."

The other group too has some strong views.

Thomas Cook was 100% right to throw you off the plane. Andre Bue (@BueAndre) March 13, 2019

Is it?

Yes...if the airline say it's inappropriate, then it is....End of story.. PAO3 (@GboyegaOgunnubi) March 13, 2019

What do you think?

ALSO READ | Man asks Sushma Swaraj for help in broken English, gets trolled. Her response wins the day