A WestJet passenger is accusing the airline's staff of profiling her due to her tattoos. The mother was traveling with her six-year-old son, who had recently undergone reconstructive eye surgery. Due to the child's appearance, flight attendants called the police, who were waiting at the destination airport.

A post-surgery trip home

Israel James, a six-year-old boy, had undergone reconstructive eye surgery in early July at B.C. Children's Hospital in Vancouver. Accompanied by his mother, Brittney Draper, the pair traveled a significant distance to Vancouver for the surgery, coming from the northern city of Terrace, B.C..

The surgery was successful, although Israel's mother notes it was particularly scary given that it was the boy's first surgery. However, the flight home was another unpleasant ordeal, particularly for Draper. Upon completing the one hour and 40-minute flight from Vancouver to Terrace onboard a WestJet Encore Bombardier Dash 8, the pair found police waiting for them on the apron. The reason? The airline staff were concerned for the boy's safety.

Tattoo discrimination?

Indeed, the cabin crew, seeing the boy in his condition, notified the police and airport management as the aircraft made its way to Terrace. Two police officers questioned Draper, going off of the information received by the airline's employees.

Speaking with Global News BC, Draper says that she was worried that she would be arrested. She notes that she had all the documentation necessary to prove that her son's condition was the result of his surgery, insisting that the airline didn't have to call police right away. She told the news outlet:

While it was never stated explicitly by any airline representatives or airline employees, Draper is of the opinion that the cabin crew's decision to call the police was due to her tattoos. The woman is fully covered in tattoos, including most of her face. "A lot of people profile me because of my tattoos, they just think I'm a bad influence or a bad person," she said to Global News BC.

Photo: GCMap.com

Out of an abundance of caution

In a statement to the media, WestJet apologized for what Draper and her son had to experience, saying:

The airline goes on to say that cabin crew were unaware of the boy's post-surgery condition due to what it called "guest privacy protections." The airline says that the incident gives them the opportunity to address how it can better support its customers.

While the common saying says that you "can't judge a book by its cover," social media users mainly sided with the airline and the decision to contact police out of concern for the child. The top comment on the Instagram post of the story reads: "At some point you need to take accountability on how you present yourself in public." Many others reiterated that it was wise for the airline to contact authorities out of concern for the boy.

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Sources: Global News BC