A California man claims American Airlines kicked him off a flight after a passenger seated next to him complained about his size.

Chris Shelley told KIRO-TV that his ordeal began Friday after he boarded a flight from Dallas to Orange County, Calif.

Shelley told the station he observed an elderly petite woman sitting in the aisle seat next to him complain to an airline employee before he was ordered to step off the plane immediately.

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“She was clearly not particularly happy, got up, left and went toward the front of the aircraft,” Shelley told the station.

Shelley claims an American Airlines employee told him that the woman seated next to him complained he was too big for his seat.

“The worst part was being treated as if I was some sort of criminal. Not only a criminal, but a fat criminal,” said Shelley. “They told me anyone over 2 inches in the seat cannot sit in the aircraft.”

Shelley told KIRO that he asked the employee if the woman would be willing to switch seats. She agreed, according to Shelley, and he was allowed back on the plane and given another seat.