A popular New York City educator is claiming that she was booted from an American Airlines flight after she complained about a four-hour delay and a staff member allegedly decided they didn’t like her “tone.”
A deputy superintendent for the Department of Education named Kyleema Norman set off to take a trip to Grenada on Sunday as a college graduation present for her daughter Bobbie but things didn’t go as planned. She was delayed when they were stranded at LaGuardia Airport waiting for their connecting flight through Miami. Things proceeded to go off the rails from there.
She told the New York Post that she communicated her frustration to airline staffers “in my teacher voice.” One of them decided she was some kind of threat and enlisted the Port Authority police to handle her.
“We’re not trying to start a riot,” Norman stated, referring to the altercation. “I didn’t curse him, threaten him, show bodily harm, or make a scene.”
“‘Your tone at 35,000 feet — I don’t think I’d be able to trust you’d be safe in the air with a pilot and other people,'” the educator was shockingly told.
Norman posted a 45-second clip of the encounter on Twitter and it went viral. Someone else started to video the interaction when police got involved.
“This is what @AmericanAir is calling erratic behavior! Please watch. At which point do I look like a threat to anyone’s safety!” she wrote.
This is what @AmericanAir is calling erratic behavior! Please watch. At which point do I look like a threat to anyone's safety! #BoycottAmericanAirlines pic.twitter.com/4mLiBUBqSj
— Kyleema A. Norman (@Norman0876) August 8, 2022
Norman is black and asserts that the incident was a result of racism, accusing the staff of letting everyone else board except her and her daughter.
“Who knew the gift would be her watching me getting banned from our flight on American Airlines and witnessing the outrage of racism,” she raged on Twitter, referring to her daughter and the now-ruined graduation present.
I was traveling to Grenada as a graduation present from my husband and I to our daughter for graduating from college. Who knew the gift would be her watching me getting banned from our flight on American Airlines and witnessing the outrage of racism. #BoycottAmericanAirlines
— Kyleema A. Norman (@Norman0876) August 7, 2022
The daughter backed up her mother’s version of events, claiming that she also stood up for others wanting information at the gate regarding the delay.
“She advocated for everyone, but she is not allowed to get on the plane because the person who pretended to help didn’t like her ‘tone,'” Bobbie noted.
This video is before the ban. The crowd around me shows we are all calm. I'm just talking. I happen to talk with my hands which is due to my Black Brownsville West Indian story telling upbringing. I only was banned after asking Mgr to call down to Miami to tell them we're late.
— Kyleema A. Norman (@Norman0876) August 10, 2022
The event ticked off other local educators who hotly defended Norman.
“I can’t believe this, but logically I know this happened and why,” a DOE staffer wrote on Twitter.
“I am so upset for you,” a teacher development coach stated. “I have no words.”
Norman was referred to her travel agency by the Passenger Refunds Department to get her money back.
It will take some time to review what happened at the gate. As soon as that's done, our team will follow up with you directly.
— americanair (@AmericanAir) August 8, 2022
Her bags were returned days later by American Airlines and she was given a $125 trip credit. The two round-trip tickets to Grenada cost $2,145. Her complaint is still up in the air.
DAY 1 as I wait for @AmericanAir to render a decision for my ruined once in a lifetime opportunity with my daughter by their hands. They gave me a $125 trip credit that I returned. NO THANK U. A trip to Harlem from Brownsville in my Expedition costs more than that! Do better.
— Kyleema A. Norman (@Norman0876) August 9, 2022
The airline claims that the delay was caused by an unspecified maintenance issue and that it is working to start the refund process.
“We take all claims of discrimination seriously and have opened an internal investigation into the issue. Our Customer Relations team is actively engaged with Ms. Norman to learn more and to apologize for her family’s recent travel experience,” an American Airlines spokesperson robotically commented via a statement.
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