May 7th Southwest Airlines has driven a family off a plane over fears that a 3-year-old with sensory impairments will remove his mask during a voyage, the New York Post reported Monday.
Caroline Scott, from North Green, Colorado, told the crew that her 3-year-old child, Oren, had sensory impairments before flying to Florida on April 30. Worried that her child might struggle to wear a mask all the way on the flight, she also provided a medical advice from Orion’s doctor.
Orion’s parents said the child was wearing a seat belt and a mask in his seat. Then a Southwest Airlines employee suddenly said to them, “You have to get off the plane.” The captain is not feeling well with your family on the plane.”
“We weren’t being ejected from the plane because of personal behavior, but because they pre-emptively thought Orion might take off his mask before he was driven off,” Scott said. Orion is only 3 years old. ”
The Federal Aviation Administration requires all passengers 2 years and older to wear masks. Scott was furious: “Airlines don’t share the same mind. It is painful and shameful that we feel humiliated.
We believe that there is nothing wrong with being honest in advance, but we are punished for it. Southwest Airlines has apologized to the Scotts in a statement and is considering exempting passengers who cannot safely wear masks because of disabilities.
