United Airlines required disabled boy's ventilator removal

A mother, Melissa Sotomayor, shared a troubling experience with United Airlines involving her disabled son. During a recent flight from Tampa, Florida to New Jersey, Sotomayor said she faced demands to remove her son’s ventilator before take-off. She posted a video on TikTok that has since gained over a million views, detailing the ordeal. Sotomayor explained that her son relies on a tracheostomy and ventilator due to his medical condition. Before traveling, she ensured she had all necessary documentation for her son's medical needs. While flying to Florida went smoothly, the return flight took a difficult turn. According to Sotomayor, a flight attendant insisted that her son must be taken off the ventilator and portable oxygen concentrator for safety reasons. She provided the necessary medical documents but was met with resistance. Other crew members, including the captain, approached her about the same issue, suggesting her son would be fine once the plane reached cruising altitude. After a tense hour of taxiing, other passengers began to criticize the treatment Sotomayor was receiving, calling it harassment. Despite the commotion and her distress, Sotomayor did not receive an apology from the crew. Eventually, the flight was cleared for take-off without the removal of her son's medical equipment. Sotomayor later escalated the situation to United Airlines corporate, but they maintained their position, citing FAA guidelines. Many viewers of her video expressed outrage at the airline's handling of the situation, with some calling for a boycott of United Airlines. Some commenters advised her to consider legal action for the distress caused during the flight.