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TALLAHASSEE – Attorney General Charlie Crist has received a copy of a response to Mr. Phil Barrett from US Airways, Inc., detailing the airline's reasoning for removing him from Flight 94 on February 12, 2005. In its letter to Mr. Barrett, the company says his removal from the flight was justified "and in full accordance with the law." Crist offered the following response to the US Airways letter:

"US Airways' response to Mr. Barrett is both disappointing and callous and raises more questions than it answers. Our investigation will continue."

The letter follows Crist's subpoena to US Airways under the Marvin Davies Civil Rights Act seeking records that guided the company's decision to deny passage to Mr. Barrett, a quadriplegic who was traveling to Cleveland from Tampa for surgery that would eventually allow him to breathe unaided for most of each day. The Attorney General wrote to US Airways President and CEO Bruce Lakefield immediately upon learning of the incident.

Additional background is available at:

Attorney General's first letter to US Airways:
http://myfloridalegal.com/newsrel.nsf/newsreleases/AA316615F1EF6DD285256FA9005CD3F1

US Airways subpoena:
http://myfloridalegal.com/newsrel.nsf/newsreleases/384042B71AFEFD8885256FAC00581085