NEWARK- Chicago-based carrier United Airlines (UA) has responded to a mounting public controversy after a mother claimed airline staff attempted to force her to disconnect her medically complex son’s ventilator during a recent flight.
The incident, which has garnered significant attention on social media, highlights potential challenges faced by passengers traveling with critical medical equipment.
Photo: Clément AlloingUnited Attendant Removes Ventilator
Melissa Sotomayor documented the alleged mistreatment in a viral TikTok video that has attracted over one million views.
The video details a distressing encounter during a March 8, 2025 flight from Tampa (TPA), Florida, to Newark (EWR), New Jersey, where crew members reportedly pressured her to detach her son’s lifesaving medical equipment.
The mother of a two-year-old child born at 22 weeks gestation emphasized her son’s medical complexity and dependence on a ventilator and tracheostomy tube. Sotomayor explained that she had meticulously prepared for the journey, obtaining necessary documentation and receiving prior clearance from United Airlines for her son’s medical equipment.
Contrary to the outbound flight, which proceeded without incident, the return journey allegedly became fraught with tension when flight crew members insisted on the ventilator’s removal. Sotomayor characterized the crew’s actions as “absolutely ridiculous” and expressed feelings of profound humiliation.
United Airlines has since issued a statement acknowledging the incident. The carrier confirmed direct communication with Sotomayor, offering an apology for “any frustration she may have experienced.” However, Sotomayor deemed the airline’s apology insincere, suggesting the resolution remains unsatisfactory NBC News reported.
Photo: Andrew E. Cohen | FlickrCompromising Child’s Health
According to Melissa Sotomayor’s detailed account, the conflict began when a flight attendant demanded she place her son’s medical equipment under the seat before takeoff. Sotomayor immediately communicated the critical nature of the medical devices, emphasizing that the ventilator and portable oxygen concentrator were essential for her son’s survival.
The mother presented comprehensive medical documentation, including clearance letters from two of her son’s physicians, to demonstrate the equipment’s medical necessity. Despite her proactive approach, flight attendants continued to challenge her, suggesting potential seat relocation if she did not comply with their instructions.
Escalation of the incident involved multiple flight crew members, each presenting increasingly confrontational perspectives. A third flight attendant suggested removing the medical equipment, claiming the child would be “OK until reaching a high enough altitude.” Sotomayor categorically refused, prioritizing her son’s medical safety.
The situation intensified when the flight’s captain entered the dispute, characterizing Sotomayor’s stance as problematic. He alleged that the medical equipment posed a danger to other passengers and her son, directly contradicting the medical clearance documentation she had previously secured.
Sotomayor firmly contested the captain’s assertions, reiterating that all medical equipment had received prior Federal Aviation Administration approval. The captain persisted in claiming the flight was dangerous for her child, despite her presenting clear medical authorization.
The confrontation ultimately resulted in a delayed departure, with the flight taking off more than an hour later than scheduled. Throughout the incident, Sotomayor reported feeling humiliated and disrespected, particularly by the captain’s dismissive and accusatory communication.
Following the traumatic experience, Sotomayor publicly shared her encounter through a viral TikTok video, which garnered over one million views. She explicitly stated her intention never to fly with United Airlines again, citing the profound emotional distress caused by the crew’s handling of the situation.
United Airlines subsequently acknowledged the incident, offering an apology that Sotomayor characterized as insincere. The airline’s representative claimed the confrontation stemmed from a “bulkhead seating problem,” an explanation Sotomayor rejected as inconsistent with the actual events.
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