A 10-year-old boy was forced to remove his shirt after airport officials determined its print could make other passengers feel anxious.
As reported by The Mirror, Stevie Lucas was traveling back to New Zealand with his family after visiting his grandparents in Pretoria, South Africa, in 2019.
While boarding a flight at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, Stevie was reportedly notified by airport staff that he could not wear his T-shirt - which was a black shirt with a large, realistic print of a green and blue snake - on the plane.
Security informed the boy's parents, Steve and Marga, about the rules and regulations on snake toys and clothing, and stated that the snake T-shirt could cause anxiety and make other passengers uncomfortable.
To avoid confrontation, the parents instructed their son to flip his shirt inside out so that the pattern would be hidden. He was then allowed to board the plane without any further issues.
Following the incident, the airport defended its decision, claiming the move was solely meant to protect other travelers.
"Security officers have the right to determine if an object has the potential to harm fellow passengers and crew members by causing certain objects or prints to be anxious," an airport representative said, according to Daily Mail.
Steve and Marga revealed that despite the T-shirt ordeal, their son remained in good spirits throughout the flight, and even "proposed a toast" to their South African adventure upon their return from vacation.
According to his father, Stevie is an enthusiastic reptile fan and has often visited pet stores with family members back home. He apparently has an interest in snakes, spiders, and bugs and even went hunting during his trip to South Africa.
While the boy obeyed the rules and seemed to enjoy his flight, his parents were still shocked by the ordeal and have since contacted the Airports Company of South Africa to get a "more extensive reason" for the airport's restrictions on the clothing rule.
"Thank you for bringing this to our attention. Note that we asked for a more extensive reason for the clothing rules and restrictions. We will give you feedback as soon as we receive it," the email read.
It is unclear if the family received a response regarding this matter.