Stage 4 Breast Cancer Patient Refused Entry Onto Plane To South Korea

Crystal Kim, 62, who has Stage 4 breast cancer and wanted to fly back to South Korea to see her family and get medical treatment before she died, was refused entry onto a Korean Air plane, even though she had a doctor’s note.

Kim wanted to fly from Seattle, USA, to Incheon, South Korea.

Kim was not allowed to get on the plane with her daughter last Sunday. The airline insisted they needed to get the OK from the airline’s medical team. By Tuesday the family had cancelled their flight.

The airline says it was concerned about Kim’s safety, even though she had a doctor’s note.

Kim had gone to the airline’s check-in counter in a wheelchair. The ticket agent refused to issue her with a boarding pass, saying she looked too ill to fly.

Daughter, Mimi, told a Seattle-base broadcaster, KING5-TV:

“I wanted to take my mom to Korea for Mother’s Day. But when we went to check in, the Korean Air ticket agent asked whether she is okay to fly. They then said they need a doctor’s note.”

Mimi showed the doctor’s note, which clearly stated the patient was cleared to fly. However, the airline did not accept it. They went back to the hospital on Monday to get another doctor’s note – but still no luck, the airline did not accept that one either, saying the home office in Seoul would have to decide. The Monday plane took off without them.

A Korean Air spokesperson said:

“Korean Air like any other airline has policies and procedures to deal with passengers with medical conditions. Despite doctors’ clearance notes, she looked too sick to fly on a long distance route. The Kims are currently staying in a hotel near the airport as we try to make necessary arrangements for Crystal to possibly fly on our plane.”

Delta Air Lines accepted mother and daughter and they flew yesterday. The airline even gave them a free first-class upgrade.