United Airlines humiliated mother over son's ventilator before flight
- Melissa Sotomayor shared her experience of humiliation with United Airlines after crew members insisted she detach her son's ventilator.
- She provided medical documentation ensuring compliance with airline policy prior to their flight.
- The incident raised significant concerns about treatment of passengers with medical needs, prompting widespread online discussion.
In early March 2025, a mother named Melissa Sotomayor faced a distressing incident while attempting to travel with her medically complex son on United Airlines. Sotomayor and her 2-year-old son, who relies on a ventilator and tracheostomy tube, were set to fly from Tampa, Florida, to Newark, New Jersey. Before their flight, she ensured all necessary medical documentation was prepared and shared it with the airline, which cleared her son's medical equipment for the journey. However, on March 8, despite prior communication and clearance, the flight crew pressured her to detach her son from his life-saving equipment for takeoff. This confrontation escalated, leading to a prolonged debate about her son's safety and airline regulations. Sotomayor expressed her deep frustration and humiliation as multiple crew members approached her about removing the medical apparatus, claiming it posed a danger to passengers and her son’s health. She firmly refused to comply, emphasizing that the equipment was essential for his survival. During the ordeal, a nearby passenger intervened, demonstrating empathy towards Sotomayor's situation. After much back and forth, including involvement from the flight's captain, the flight eventually took off over an hour late. Post-flight, United Airlines offered an apology but did not fully address her concerns. The incident sparked outrage online, particularly as Sotomayor, through a TikTok video that garnered over a million views, detailed her experience, declaring she would never fly United again due to the treatment she received.