Woman sues airline claiming lack of accommodation for claustrophobia

DETROIT -- An Arab-American woman claims she was discriminated against because of her background.

Nadia Majed, 20, said it happened shortly after she got on a Spirit Airlines plane, WXYZ-TV reports.

Majed suffers from claustrophobia and said she needs a window seat when traveling by air. However, she wasn't given a window seat, and her fears were triggered. It eventually erupted into a major panic attack, which is when she was escorted off the plane by security.

"There was people wooing, clapping. And there were some people that were in shock like, 'She did not deserve to get kicked off the plane.' And I was already like, triggered. I was already crying. I broke out in hives. I was trying to hold back my hyperventilating," she said.

"I kept asking her, 'Please we have no place to go. She said, 'Well!'" said mom Dr. Hoda Mine.

"The fact that they are Arab-Americans, I think that really played a major (role) in her decision to continue to not hear her cries for help," said attorney Nabih Ayad.

Majed says she isn't seeking money from the airline. Rather, she wants Spirit to give sensitivity training to its employees.