'You’re not flying with that': US veteran with PTSD is suing American Airlines after she was stopped from travelling with her service dog

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A former army captain is suing American Airlines after the carrier allegedly refused to let her fly with her service dog, despite the fact that she had all the relevant paperwork.

Lisa McCombs was flying home from Kansas when she was reportedly prevented from boarding her flight twice.

The veteran, who had previously been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, is now suing the carrier for exacerbating her PTSD according to a lawsuit filed this week.

Lisa McCombs was flying home from Kansas when she was reportedly prevented from boarding her flight twice because she had a service dog with her

Lisa McCombs was flying home from Kansas when she was reportedly prevented from boarding her flight twice

The lawsuit was filed in Mississippi according to Army Times, and is in relation to incidents that took place between October 25 and 27 last year.

According to the 35-page brief that detailed the suit, McCombs was travelling home from Kansas after a day trip there with her service dog, Jake.

McCombs is said to have acquired Jake to help her cope with anxiety issues.

Despite having flown out from her home in Gulfport, Mississippi, on American Airlines flight earlier that day, McCombs was prevented from travelling back with the animal.

According to The Mercury, a supervisor from the airline told McCombs: 'You’re not flying with that. We are cancelling your flight.'

After initially being prevented from flying on the 25th, the veteran then had a second flight cancelled on the 26th by the airline despite having a notation on her file to say that she would be travelling with the service animal.

Ms McCombs decided to book a flight from a different airport with Delta Airlines for the 27th.

The former army captain is now suing American Airlines over the incident, which took place last October

The new booking required McCombs to hire a car as well, which left her further out of pocket.

However, before her flight, an American Airlines representative called Ms McCombs and booked her on a third flight and assured her that there would be no further incidents with regards to travelling with Jake.

According to the suit, the veteran and her service dog were able to check in a third time without any issues even though she encountered the same crew twice before.

Ms McCombs claims that she was further humiliated during a transfer when she was called out as 'disabled' by airline staff and was 'escorted' between her flights.

At the time of the incident, Ms McCombs told WLOX: 'A crazy, obnoxious situation took place – arguing back and forth, humiliation, harassment and ultimately my flight was denied.

'The whole situation perpetuated my disability. It sent me into crisis mode.'

Ms McCombs' lawyer Christopher Van Cleave has declined to comment on the pending lawsuit.

A spokesperson for American Airlines told MailOnline Travel: 'We appreciate and thank Ms. McCombs for her service to our country. 

According to the suit, the veteran and her service dog (pictured) were able to check in a third time without any issues even though she encountered the same crew twice before

'American Airlines is involved in a wide variety of military initiatives and programs in support of our men and women in uniform, veterans and their families. 

'This includes providing support to organizations such as Fisher House and its Hero Miles program, Snowball Express, and charter flights for Salute to the Troops, Seats for Soldiers and Honor Flights. 

'Just this past weekend, American Airlines raised more than $2.5 million for the Airpower Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting members of the military and their families.

'In October 2015, Capt. Jim Palmersheim, American’s senior manager of Military and Veterans Programs – a pilot and U.S. Army veteran – immediately reached out to Ms. McCombs and spoke to her for more than an hour to obtain additional information on what occurred at both Manhattan Regional Airport and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

'The process for traveling with a service animal on American is in line with applicable federal regulations. We will not be able to comment on the allegations in the lawsuit, since this matter is pending litigation.'