If you read the blog regularly, you will know that I usually shy away from any incidents involving passenger shaming or bad behaviour. However, in this case I’ll make an exception since the passenger involved shared it on social media themselves. It also is a good reflection of the issues airlines are facing with making masks mandatory. Yesterday I published an article about the actions that US airlines are threatening if customers refuse to wear a face mask on board, like in this incident.
In the incident, passenger Brandon Straka was asked to get off a flight from New York to Dallas. The passenger wore a mask to board the plane, but then removed it and refused to put it back on again. The airline said in a statement “After he refused to comply with the instructions provided by the flight crew, our team members asked him to deplane. He deplaned and the flight departed the gate four minutes late at 12:34 p.m. ET,”
Here is what Brandon posted on Twitter
Flight Attendant: Excuse me, sir, do you have a condition that prevents you from wearing a mask?
Me: Yes.
Flight Attendant: May I ask what that is?
Me: Sanity.
— Brandon Straka (@BrandonStraka) June 17, 2020
A fellow passenger who happened to be from the New York Times actually filmed the incident.
— Steadman™ (@AsteadWesley) June 17, 2020
Legally there are no laws in the UK or US that specifically mean you must wear a face mask on a plane. There are, of course, laws about obeying the commands of an aircraft captain, which to me would seem to cover it. In the US arguments are ongoing with the FAA and other government bodies about legislation to enforce the wearing of masks. The FAA views it as a public health issue, not an aviation one.
In this example, it also demonstrates the difficulties faced when people try to absolve themselves from the rule by claiming falsely that they have a disability. The airlines are not allowed to ask for proof of a person’s disability as to why they can’t wear a face mask. Which when faced with a passenger like this, it makes it very difficult to challenge them. So how do they strike the balance between protecting people with disabilities rights, and passengers that abuse that claim to get out of wearing a mask?
The airline did rebook him on a later flight, which seems to me, will just encourage people to do what they feel like. Yes, the flight attendant should not have asked for proof of his disability technically, but given what he said I don’t blame her. It is made clear to passengers before they fly that they must wear a mask or face covering. If you don’t like the policy, don’t fly or get a private jet! I don’t particularly want to wear one either, but if that’s what the policy is and is needed to keep people safe, then I will abide by it.
There seems to be a greater reluctance in the US about wearing face masks, but this issue is one that will affect the UK as well. And as a fellow passenger, can I be asked to move if the person next to me will not wear a mask? What happens if they are next to someone high risk? It’s a massive can of worms for the airlines.
British Airways’ instructions to crew say that
“A passenger may be unable to wear a mask due to a permissible exception e.g. a medical condition. In this situation, establish the permissible exception and reassure the passenger that this is acceptable.
NOTE: Passengers having a medical reason for not wearing face masks can be exempted. Crew should accept the word of the passenger on this matter rather than assess the validity of the medical reason provided.”
3 comments
It amazes me, how people applauded when Brandon, after not offering a medical reason for not wearing a mask once onboard, got off the aircraft, but they would have happily sat alongside him for the entire flight, if he’d simply replied, when asked the question, something like ‘l suffer from asthma’, or some other condition, and he continued on the flight
In a few months time, when either the hysteria dies down, or some airlines (not all – there’s a clue) realise they’ve been insisting on action that no one person, or foundation, can PROVE offers any protection by way of face covering in an aircraft environment, or simply the majority of passengers become bored and irritated by the request and the regulation flounders, we’ll look back and think, how did we become so hoodwinked by so few people into this false sense of security
I for one will choose to fly with airlines not insisting on masks, or if unavailable find alternative transportation, or if l have to, I’ll wait until commonsense returns
Anyone who is selfish enough to think they can refuse to wear a mask just because they don’t want to, without knowing if they have Covid or not (aysmptomatic) deserve to be thrown off a flight. It is downright selfishness at its worst. You don’t get that attitude in SE Asia!
I have had Covid and it is NOT the flu, nor has it lasted 2-3 weeks with me either, I am still suffering with symptoms but am testing negative now. This is a serious pandemic and if people behave like that no wonder we will be getting a second wave. They will then all start complaining when the world gets locked down again. Well done American Airlines
Is there an exemption for medical conditions that says someone is allowed not to wear a seatbelt on a flight? Or a myriad of other things that you are not allowed to do on a flight. We all have to follow the rules on flights for the protection of everyone. That is the way it is.
People used to be able to smoke on flights and that was banned for the health and safety of other people. This is an analogous situation.
Of course nobody would chose to wear a mask. but we have all sacrificed in the current situation, some far more than others, and it seems a tiny sacrifice to make to protect other people.
Also if you have a medical condition, like asthma, that prevents you wearing a mask, there must be an argument that you should not be taking a flight at this time,,,You will be more vulnerable to catching COVID en route, especially if your fellow passenger take your view and refuse to wear a mask.
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