A woman who was not wearing a mask while on a flight apparently hit an airline agency in the face after refusing permission to go on a second flight, officials said.
Phoenix police at Sky Harbor International Airport responded to a report of an attack at a terminal Wednesday at about 8:30 p.m.
A woman, identified by police as Yolanda Yarbrough, 47, did not comply with American Airlines’ mandatory face policy while on a flight from Los Angeles to Phoenix, said Curtis Blessing, an airline spokeswoman.
American Airlines requires all passengers and crew members to wear masks to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Police said in a statement that Yarbrough was told of the policy, which went into effect on May 11, during the flight and was reminded of the mask obligation when the plane landed. It is similar to the policies of other major airlines.
After she arrived in Phoenix and was informed that she would not be able to take a connecting flight to Las Vegas, Yarbrough became “annoyed and hit an American team member in the terminal,” Blessing said.
The employee told police that Yarbrough had slapped him with her hand on his face, police said. Blessing said the employee was not injured.
Yarbrough was arrested and booked on an assault charge. She was released on her own admission Wednesday, a Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman said Friday. Yarbrough could not be immediately reached for comment. It is not clear if she has a lawyer.
American Airlines reinforced in June the enforcement of the mask rule, demanding that face masks be worn at airports and on board, and announced that future travel may be denied to customers who refuse to comply.
Blessing said American Airlines does not tolerate violence of any kind.
Yarbrough has been banned from future America Airlines flights pending further investigation, Blessing said.
