A Marine Corps veterinarian’s effort to highlight the crisis of soldiers dying by suicide nearly got her kicked off a Delta flight… and she was forced to change her clothes before takeoff.
Catarina Bancoswho served 22 years in the Navy, says she was on a Delta flight in San Francisco earlier this week when she says a flight attendant approached her and said, “You need to get off the plane.”
She says he told her the shirt she was wearing was “threatening.” The shirt had a print that said, “Don’t give in to the war within…end veteran suicide.”
Catherine said KNTV she was stunned and simply responded, “Are you kidding me?”
She says she explained that she had been in the military for more than two decades and was going to see her sister, who is also in the Navy — but claims the attendant said, “I don’t care about your service.” …and told her she couldn’t get back on the plane until she took off her shirt.
Banks says she was filled with anxiety while on the jet bridge and — after asking the flight attendant to turn around — she took off her shirt and replaced it with a sweatshirt.
She was finally allowed back on the plane, but the flight was delayed and Catherine says she missed a connection.
As for what was so ominous about his shirt – we’ve reached out to Delta, but no response yet.
The data on military suicides is staggering: Reportedly, 22 veterans die by suicide every day, and the rate across all branches of the military is 32 percent.
We reached out to Delta for comment… so far, no response.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.