Northern California cancer patient kicked off Hawaii flight

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KTVU and wires) -- A woman with cancer was kicked off a flight just before it left Hawaii bound for the Bay Area after she was told she couldn't fly without a doctor's note.

But on Wednesday, Alaska Airlines issued an apology to Elizabeth Sedway for removing her from the flight saying – "We are very sorry for how the situation was handled. While our employee had the customer's well-being in mind, the situation could have been handled differently."

Sedway, who lives in Placer County, was traveling home Monday from a family vacation celebrating her wedding anniversary.

Sedway, suffers from a type of blood cancer called multiple myeloma and is undergoing chemotherapy, had put on a surgical mask as she and her family boarded an Alaska Airlines flight in Lihue.

She also mentioned to an airline employee that she was feeling weak and may need a little extra time to board.

The airline called a doctor and a representative boarded the plane a short time later and questioned Sedway. Without a doctor's note clearing her to fly, Sedway and her family were asked to leave.

As her family was escorted off the flight, Sedway recorded their exit.

On the cell phone video, Sedway can be heard saying – "They're taking me off the airplane, because I don't have a doctor's note saying I can fly. All these people are waiting and I'm being removed as if I'm a criminal or contagious."

She says the incident caused her to miss her chemotherapy this week.

Besides apologizing, the airline has reimbursed the family for their airfare and accommodations.

On her Facebook page, Sedway wrote – "As with most unpleasant times, there are silver linings, if we're determined to find them. Here, we plan to donate the airfare, to be refunded by Alaska Airlines, to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation – MMRF. Additionally, this airline will likely look at future events of this kind with increased wisdom and sensitivity."