by Long Island, New York — A Long Island Marine veteran and police officer is suing Delta Airlines after he was forced to give up his exit row seat because of his prosthetic legs, in what he describes as a humiliating and discriminatory ordeal during a flight from JFK Airport earlier this year.
The Incident That Sparked the Lawsuit
According to a lawsuit filed in state Supreme Court in Queens, Matias Ferreira, a 36-year-old Suffolk County police officer and double-amputee Marine veteran, boarded a Delta flight at JFK Airport on May 17. Ferreira had chosen an exit row seat — a spot he prefers for extra legroom and ease of movement.
Before takeoff, Delta flight attendants began asking passengers seated in the exit row if they were physically able to assist in an emergency. Instead of confirming his readiness, the crew informed Ferreira he needed to move to another seat.
Ferreira explained that he had served in the U.S. Marine Corps, had been a police officer for nearly a decade, and had sat in exit row seats on previous flights without issue. Despite this, the flight attendant insisted that he switch seats after consulting with the pilot, citing Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations, according to the lawsuit.
A Veteran’s Dignity Questioned
Ferreira, who lost both legs after stepping on an IED explosion in Afghanistan in 2011, said the encounter made him feel deeply disrespected and embarrassed.
“I felt like I was viewed as a liability, not as a United States Marine, not as a police officer, not as a father of two,” he said. “It kind of feels that I was stripped away from all those things that took me a long time to accomplish.”
Ferreira explained that he was traveling to Atlanta to surprise his goddaughter and had been wearing shorts that day, which may have made his prosthetics more visible to the crew. The lawsuit describes the episode as a “humiliating blow” for a man who has built his life around service and resilience.
Delta’s Response and Apology Letter
Following the incident, Delta Airlines issued a written apology dated May 29, acknowledging that Ferreira should not have been removed from the exit row. The letter stated, “Passengers using prosthetics are not prohibited from sitting in an exit row.”
It further clarified, “So long as the passenger verbally communicates their willingness and ability to assist in an evacuation should one become necessary, the passenger should be allowed to remain in the exit row.”
Although the airline offered Ferreira a travel voucher, he decided to move forward with legal action, saying his goal was to ensure equal treatment for passengers with prosthetics, not financial gain.
Legal Action and a Broader Message
Ferreira’s attorney, Norman Steiner of The Steiner Law Firm, who also lost part of his leg in a motorcycle crash, said Delta’s actions were arbitrary, discriminatory, and emotionally damaging.
“God forbid something happens mid-flight, you want someone like Matias in that exit row,” Steiner said. “He’s strong, disciplined, and calm under pressure — exactly who you’d want in a crisis.”
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He described the ordeal as a “spiritual amputation” for the veteran. “There’s no prosthetic that can give you back your sense of self and purpose,” Steiner said. “That’s the true harm here.”
FAA Rules and Disability Awareness
Under FAA rules, airlines are permitted to remove passengers from exit rows only if they lack the strength, mobility, or coordination to perform the duties required during an emergency. Ferreira’s case, however, underscores the need for better employee training to ensure people with prosthetics are not unfairly excluded or stereotyped.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for emotional distress and discriminatory behavior. Ferreira said his primary aim is to make sure no person with prosthetic limbs ever feels diminished or incapable again.
“I’ve spent my life proving what I can do,” Ferreira said. “This isn’t about money — it’s about respect and equality.”
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