A Sacramento musician’s frustrating airport experience has sparked a nationwide conversation about how airlines handle musical instruments.

Samantha Henson, a singer-songwriter from Sacramento, says on Thursday evening (25-Jun-2026) she was prevented from boarding a Southwest Airlines flight to Portland after staff claimed her guitar was too large to be carried into the cabin. Although Southwest’s policy allows guitars as carry-on items if they fit in the overhead bin and space is available, Henson says she had successfully flown with the same guitar on Southwest for the past five years.

After being removed from her original flight, Henson waited for a later departure, but says she was stopped again. The situation escalated when sheriff’s deputies were called to the gate after she refused to check her guitar, fearing it could be damaged in the cargo hold. Henson insists she remained calm throughout the incident and disputes claims that she blocked passengers from boarding.

In a video that has now surpassed 1.8 million views on Instagram, deputies appear unsure why they were called as the confrontation unfolded. Ultimately, Henson spent the night at Sacramento International Airport before boarding a 4 a.m. flight the next morning—this time successfully bringing the same guitar onboard as a carry-on. She made it to her friend’s wedding in Portland later that day.

Southwest responded by reiterating that guitars may be carried onboard if they fit in the overhead bin or under a seat, but warned that overhead bin space is not guaranteed and encouraged customers traveling with valuable cabin items to purchase upgraded boarding positions.

Henson says the issue extends far beyond her own experience, highlighting the challenges that musicians regularly face when flying with their instruments. She hopes the viral incident leads to clearer policies and more consistent handling of musical instruments across the airline industry.