American Airlines, which requires all passengers to wear masks for the duration of their flight, said it is reviewing the situation after photographs of the senator appeared. Ted Cruz
Rafael (Ted) Edward Cruz Oh, Canada: Should the United States Emulate Canada’s National Health Service? Trump tweets his support for Goya Foods amid boycott Trump says he will sign an order with ‘road to citizenship’ for DACA recipients MORE (R-Texas) without a mask on an airplane.
A Cruz spokesman said Cruz was drinking coffee and took off his mask to do so when he was photographed.
“We are committed to protecting the health and safety of all who fly with us, and we are reviewing the details of this matter,” an American Airlines spokesperson told The Hill.
Hosseh Enad, a congressional Democratic Campaign Committee operative, tweeted a picture of Cruz at 10:45 am Sunday on a flight and without a mask.
Captured today at 10:45 am – @TedCruz on a commercial flight, refusing to wear a mask. pic.twitter.com/h8DM7J4CMi
– Hosseh (@hossehenad) July 13, 2020
“To help promote safety, Senator Cruz wears a mask when traveling and practices social distancing when possible. In accordance with airline policy, he temporarily removes the mask while eating or drinking,” said a Cruz spokesman. to The Hill.
The spokesperson added: “Yesterday, during his flight, he took off his drinking mask and put it back on later. We should all be using common sense measures to slow the spread of the virus.”
Cruz’s office tweeted a photograph of the senator wearing a mask in what the spokesman said was another flight on Sunday.
Cruz flew on Sunday at one of American Airlines’ national regional partners.
Cruz is chair of the Senate Commerce subcommittee with jurisdiction over US airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration. Major American airlines, including American, announced in June that masks are required on flights and can be removed for eating or drinking. Clients who refuse to use protective equipment may be included in a no-fly list.
Enad also tweeted a picture of Cruz waiting at the door without wearing a mask.
It is unclear which airport Cruz was at. Airports across the country have inconsistent standards for facial coatings, and as of June 30, masks are required within 20 of the 30 major central airports in the U.S.
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