Andrew Rozynski, an attorney representing Ashley Grey, is threatening a lawsuit against Frontier Airlines in New York if it doesn’t retract its statement regarding Grey’s recent removal from a flight. This development comes after Grey, who is deaf, was reportedly kicked off a Frontier flight, an incident she captured in a viral TikTok video, sparking widespread outrage and a serious backlash.
According to BroBible, Grey’s video, which has garnered over 2 million views, shows her visibly upset and tearful in her seat on a Frontier Airlines plane. Text overlays on the video explain that she was removed because she is deaf, questioning the point of listing her disability on her ticket if Frontier wouldn’t accommodate her.
The footage captures a gate agent advocating for Grey, confirming her disability was noted on her reservation. Despite this intervention, the flight crew apparently insisted on her removal. Grey’s mother can be heard asking, “How dare that woman?” referring to the Frontier Airlines flight attendant who initiated the removal.
Airlines staff need to be trained on disability accommodations
Grey, trying to maintain her composure, expressed her embarrassment, stating she didn’t do anything wrong and wasn’t resisting leaving. She later shared in her caption that gate agents apologized for the flight attendant’s behavior when she went to rebook, urging Frontier to improve staff training on disability accommodations.
Frontier Airlines, however, claims Grey was not removed for failing to respond to a flight attendant. Instead, they allege she boarded with an open container of alcohol and admitted it contained alcohol when questioned. According to Frontier, she then “rapidly consumed” the rest of the drink before handing over the container.
This container reportedly had a sticker warning that federal law prohibits carrying such alcoholic beverages on board. The airline stated that bringing an open container on board violates both company policy and federal law.
Frontier also disputes ever knowing about Grey’s disability, with a spokesperson stating there was “no indication on the passenger’s reservation that she is deaf or has any form of disability.” They added that staff who interacted with her reported she “was clearly and effectively conversing with them during interactions,” and she was rebooked on a later flight.
Rozynski, a partner at Eisenberg & Baum and co-director of the firm’s Law Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing, called Frontier’s version “fabricated.” He said in a press release, “Frontier had a choice between accountability and attack.” He believes Frontier chose to “go to national media with a fabricated alcohol story that every witness and the video itself contradict, and to publicly deny a disability that its own booking system and gate agent had already confirmed.”
Under the Air Carrier Access Act, airlines are legally prohibited from discriminating against passengers based on disability. The US Department of Transportation (DOT) explicitly states that airlines cannot refuse to transport someone due to a disability, unless they pose a direct safety threat, in which case a written explanation is required.
The DOT’s Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights also mandates that staff interacting with passengers receive training on recognizing and accommodating disability-related needs. The National Association of the Deaf advises passengers to self-identify their hearing disability to airline personnel to ensure they receive accessible communication, after which the airline is obligated to provide them with the same information as other passengers.
The incident has certainly resonated with online commenters. One person called the situation “unacceptable!!” Another declared, “Congratulations on the winning of your law suit! I have & will NEVER fly Frontier Airlines.” Others encouraged solidarity, like one who wrote, “Can we all normalize standing up for each other – safety in numbers,” and another who advised, “Please get an ADA lawyer. Do not let this go.”
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