A woman with a severe nut allergy says she was kicked off an American Airlines flight after crew members told her they are required to serve nuts

• Sophie Draper says she was removed from an American Airlines flight due to her nut allergy.
• The airline refused to accommodate her allergy, Draper said in a series of Twitter posts.

A 26-year-old woman from England said she was booted from an American Airlines flight because the airline would not accommodate her nut allergy.

In a series of tweets, Sophie Draper — who has a severe nut allergy that puts her at risk for life-threatening anaphylaxis — said she first mentioned her health condition at the gate when boarding a flight from London to New York in December 2021.

According to Draper, the head of cabin crew informed her they were "contractually obliged to serve hot mixed nuts in first and business class." Draper had purchased a seat in economy. However, due to the severity of her allergy, she explained that sitting in economy would not protect her from the risk of inhaling an airborne allergen.

Draper's boyfriend, who was planning to fly to New York with her, asked staff what the protocol would be if she went into anaphylactic shock on the plane.

"He knows how to use your EpiPen, right?" a crew member said in response, according to Draper's tweet.

That's when Draper and her boyfriend were removed from the flight, Draper said.

"I broke down in tears," Draper tweeted. "I felt totally discriminated against for a health condition I have no control over."

Draper's boyfriend filed a complaint against the airline over a month ago, she tweeted, but has not yet seen any action.

"American Airlines made me feel like my health and safety and that of others with severe food allergies is not important," she told HuffPost UK. "I have no control over my nut allergy and the danger it presents to my life if I were to go into anaphylaxis."

"The least airlines could do is take this health condition seriously by making appropriate announcements and replacing nuts with another snack," she added.

In a statement to Insider, American Airlines said it prioritizes "the health and safety of those who fly with us."

"We regret that we disappointed Ms. Draper and her travel partner during this trip, and our team has reached out to apologise and hear more about their experience," a spokesperson for the airline said.

The airline also urged people allergies to take medical precautions ahead of their flight. Draper and her boyfriend were offered a refund for bag fees.