Earlier today, a passenger aboard a Spirit Airlines flight to Florida was removed for not wearing a mask. The incident took place on a plane leaving New York’s LaGuardia airport. The incident was captured on video and posted on Twitter.
As the Spirit Airlines flight was preparing to depart, a male passenger reportedly removed the cover from his face and refused to put it back on, according to the airline. As a result, Port Authority police officers were called to remove the passenger from the plane.
Incident captured on video
The incident was videotaped and posted on Twitter by a user named Martin Ogawa. The incident was captured in two separate videos, the first showing the passenger arguing with the police and refusing to leave the plane.
Breaking up with a friend: on a flight from @SpiritAirlines @LGAairport to @FLLFlyer #fortladerdale, this man refuses to wear a face covering: man is # arrested for rebellious behavior (Video: copyright) #WearAMask pic.twitter.com/ eJQo1toQXW
– Martin Ogawa (@martinog) July 3, 2020
In this first video, the man is shown arguing with a police officer and saying that he did nothing wrong and that he needs to get home to see his father. Later in the first video, the man demonstrates how he was allowed to board the plane, wrapping a handkerchief around his mouth.
While the police officer talks to the passenger, another person can be heard on board the plane pleading for the man to be allowed to board, saying “He paid for the flight … This is America. Let this man fly. Why can’t he go home?
The second video is clearly inside the airport terminal, showing that all passengers had to get off the plane. The man can be seen in front of a Spirit Airlines gate agent, presumably working through the details of the flight. Around him are four policemen from the Port Authority.
Update: The man who refuses to wear a mask on @LGAairport @SpiritAirlines Flight to Fort Lauderdale @FLLFlyer is now being arrested @ nbc6: passengers had to get off the plane. #WearAMask pic.twitter.com/kmbuJ0RR0f
– Martin Ogawa (@martinog) July 3, 2020
Spirit Airlines response
Spirit Airlines responded to the Simple Flying investigation by confirming that police were asked to intervene in this incident.
“… after a man boarded flight NK197 from La Guardia to Fort Lauderdale, he removed the cover from his face and refused to put it back on. Finally, the man chose to disembark on his own rather than risk consequences legal. “
The airline adds that it will “Always err with caution when it comes to the health and safety of [its] Guests.
“Wearing a face mask is simple, it’s easy, and it’s critical for Spirit and the airline industry in general. We are grateful to the thousands of Guests and Team Members of the Spirit who do their part every day to protect each other, and we will continue to apply the use of facial covers on board our aircraft. “
An increasingly common requirement
With the exception of eating or drinking, masks are required at all times during the flight. This has been an increasingly common requirement for airlines around the world, and a policy that has commonly been extended to many airport terminals as well.
Some airlines, such as Qatar Airways, go a step further by requiring the use of masks.
What do you think of this incident? Was Spirit Airlines too fast to call the authorities to pick up the passenger? Or was the withdrawal justified? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
