Passengers: Flight attendant refused to hang Army Ranger's uniform

CHARLOTTE, NC (KTRK) -- U.S Airways is apologizing after a flight attendant refused to hang up an Army Ranger's blue dress coat.

Several passengers posted about the incident on social media. They claim First Sgt. Albert Marle asked the flight attendant if to hang up his uniform jacket so it wouldn't become wrinkled. The passengers say the flight attendant then told the Army Ranger that the closet was reserved for first-class passengers only.

"Her response wasn't that there's not space in the coat closet or 'I've hung too many jackets up.' It was just simply, 'Our airline policy says I'm not going to do it, so I'm not going to do it,'" first-class passenger Brian Kirby told ABC affiliate WSOC-TV. "I was really appalled at not only the way she looked at him but the way she spoke to him in an angry type of attitude."

Passengers say the soldier didn't argue with the flight attendant and quietly returned to his seat.

That's when other passengers began to take issue with the flight attendant's actions. Some even offered the soldier their seat in first class, but say the ranger refused to take their seats.

"He was more than willing to take his seat. He was not going to make an issue of it. It was us in first class that made an issue out of it," Kirby said. "It may not have seemed like a big deal and he certainly wouldn't have made a big deal about it but it's important someone stands up and says this is not correct it needs to be fixed."

U.S. Airways has since issued an apology over the incident, reading quote:

"We apologize for the situation and are reviewing the incident internally. We have a long and proud history of serving our military members and hold the men and women who serve our country in the highest regard."

A U.S. Airways spokesperson said the airline is now trying to reach First Sgt. Marle to thank him for his service.