Canberk Yüksel
October 15, 2016•Update: October 15, 2016
NEW YORK
A major American airline said Friday it was "troubled" by accusations of discrimination after a black female physician was stonewalled by flight attendants while trying to help an unconscious passenger
Dr. Tamika Cross, an obstetrician and gynecologist from Houston, Texas, accused Delta Airlines of "blatant discrimination" in a Facebook post Oct. 9.
"Was on Delta flight DL945 and someone 2 rows in front of me was screaming for help. Her husband was unresponsive. I naturally jumped into Doctor mode as no one else was getting up. Unbuckle my seatbelt and throw my tray table up and as I'm about to stand up, flight attendant says 'everyone stay calm, it's just a night terror, he is alright'. I continue to watch the scene closely.
"A couple mins later he is unresponsive again and the flight attendant yells 'call overhead for a physician on board'. I raised my hand to grab her attention. She said to me 'oh no sweetie put ur hand down, we are looking for actual physicians or nurses or some type of medical personnel, we don't have time to talk to you' I tried to inform her that I was a physician but I was continually cut off by condescending remarks."
The flight attendant in question then proceeded to allow a white male who said he was a doctor to intervene in the situation, without asking him for any credentials because he "fit the 'description of a doctor'", Cross quoted the person as saying.
The airline told Anadolu Agency in an email statement that it was "troubled by any accusations of discrimination" and was taking them "very seriously".
"The experience Dr. Cross has described is not reflective of Delta’s culture or of the values our employees live out every day," the statement said, adding that an investigation being conducted.
"We’ve reached out to Dr. Cross to speak with her directly, talked with our crew members and we’re reaching out to customers who were on board to gather as much information as we can," the company added.
