Erin
September 6, 2001, 07:01 PM
A British man in the middle of a sex change is suing an airline after he was marched off a plane and ordered to swap his dress for a pair of trousers.
The passenger was allegedly ordered to wipe off his make-up and bin his wig by United Airlines staff - despite showing a doctor's note proving he was mid-op.
'Totally humiliated'
Richard Ward, who goes by the name of Sarah West, is claiming £17,000 compensation from the company.
Beth Plotner, attorney for Mr Ward, said: "My client is a biological male, but she does present as a female quite often. She had on makeup, with a wig, a dress."
Plotner alleged staff told Mr Ward to put on a pair of trousers, "take off the long hair, probably wipe off the makeup, to basically change back so that they were satisfied for their own reasons. She was totally humiliated."
Missed flight
Mr Ward was traveling back to London and had already boarded for the first leg of the journey, from Omaha to Chicago, when United personnel intervened, making him miss the flight and the connection to London, the lawyer said.
He had previously flown many times in women's clothes on United and other carriers without being forced to change clothing. He is suing for breach of contract and infliction of emotional harm.
United refused to comment but Plotner said her client had been offered £480 in vouchers to make up for his missed flight
The passenger was allegedly ordered to wipe off his make-up and bin his wig by United Airlines staff - despite showing a doctor's note proving he was mid-op.
'Totally humiliated'
Richard Ward, who goes by the name of Sarah West, is claiming £17,000 compensation from the company.
Beth Plotner, attorney for Mr Ward, said: "My client is a biological male, but she does present as a female quite often. She had on makeup, with a wig, a dress."
Plotner alleged staff told Mr Ward to put on a pair of trousers, "take off the long hair, probably wipe off the makeup, to basically change back so that they were satisfied for their own reasons. She was totally humiliated."
Missed flight
Mr Ward was traveling back to London and had already boarded for the first leg of the journey, from Omaha to Chicago, when United personnel intervened, making him miss the flight and the connection to London, the lawyer said.
He had previously flown many times in women's clothes on United and other carriers without being forced to change clothing. He is suing for breach of contract and infliction of emotional harm.
United refused to comment but Plotner said her client had been offered £480 in vouchers to make up for his missed flight