HONOLULU -- A Hawaii Kai woman got kicked off a United Airlines plane bound for Honolulu Monday when the flight crew accused her of having the flu.

It happened in Tampa, Fla. as the plane was about to take off.

The woman's husband said Monday the airline discriminated against his wife.

The woman and her daughter were scheduled to arrive at the Honolulu Airport at about 4:30 p.m. Monday. Instead, they were left stranded in Tampa.

United Airlines did not provide them with a hotel room, so they stayed with relatives, and thousands of miles away in Hawaii was very concerned husband and father.

Bob Mostoufi said he didn't expect to spend the evening alone.

His wife Mitra and daughter Pagie were in Tampa for a family wedding and were excited to come home, but they were kicked off their flight to Honolulu while still on the ground in Tampa.

Mitra had an upset stomach and had just returned from the restroom when a flight crew member approached her.

"'Get your stuff and let's go. Get your belongings.' And I said, 'Why? Because you're sick.' Right in front of everybody. And I said, 'I'm not sick and I'm not going to argue with anybody at that point,'" said Mitra Mostoufi.

Mitra Mostoufi said she and her daughter left the plane embarrassed and humiliated.

Mitra Mostoufi said asked another employee for further explanation and learned the crew believed she had the swine flu.

"'The crew does not feel good about you flying because you might be sick.' I didn't know they were all physicians," said Mitra Mostoufi.

She said she had flu shot and no one ever took her temperature. The pair missed United's only flight of the day from Tampa to Hawaii.

Her husband said he learned of their plight a short time later.

"I couldn't believe it, first time I heard that from her," said Bob Mostoufi. "I think this is discrimination for anybody who's sick."

But the Mostoufi's said they agree in this age of the swine flu there must be a balance in protecting public health and respecting individual rights.

"I appreciate their concern for other customers and guests. I don't have any problem with that. The only problem I have is the way they handled the situation," Mitra Mostoufi said. "We are human beings. Maybe I sneeze. It doesn't mean I have the flu. You cannot assume that and get me out of the airplane."

United Airlines' policy allows the crew to determine if someone who appears visibly ill should be allowed to fly.

Mitra and her daughter are now scheduled to return to Hawaii aboard the same United Airlines flight at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.