Just days before a college football player was kicked off a US Airways flight for sporting sagging pants, a Fort Lauderdale passenger was allowed to fly cross-country wearing only a halter top, women's panties and high heels.
US Airways is defending its decision to allow the man to take the June 9 flight from Fort Lauderdale to Phoenix in the risque outfit and also sticks by its decision to kick the football player off his flight.
On June 15, University of New Mexico football player Deshon Marman was arrested on a US Airways flight in San Francisco after he allegedly had his pants too low for the pilot's liking.
A US Airways spokeswoman told the San Francisco Chronicle employees were right not to ask the man on the Phoenix flight to cover himself but declined to comment on Marman's arrest.
Marman, who is African American, was arrested on charges of battery, resisting arrest and suspicion of trespassing after he allegedly refused a pilot's orders to get up from his seat.
A photo of the man on the Phoenix-bound flight, taken at the terminal at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, was obtained by the Chronicle. The unidentified man is shown wearing blue underwear and black stockings under high heels.
Marman's attorney, Joe O'Sullivan, said it was a matter of racial discrimination.
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"It just shows the hypocrisy involved," O'Sullivan told the Chronicle. "They let a drag queen board a flight and welcomed him with open arms. Employees didn't ask him to cover up. He didn't have to talk to the pilot. They didn't try to remove him from the plane - and many people would find his attire repugnant."
