‘Disruptive’ passenger kicked off plane after demanding flight attendant wear a mask

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. A fellow traveller named Patrick tweeted about the incident, writing: “This elderly man was thrown off @allegiant airline this morning from Punta Gorda Florida this morning because he asked the flight attendant why he had to wear a mask and she didn’t have to wear one.” He also shared a video which shows the man being escorted off the plane and asking to speak to the captain, while a female flight attendant tells him “no” and firmly ushers him out of the plane. An Allegiant Air spokesperson told Newsweek: “The flight attendant giving the safety briefing lowered their mask for speaking into the PA so the briefing could be understood.” They said this caused the passenger to become “disruptive.” While Allegiant’s website states that “all crew members are required to wear a face covering at all times and gloves during inflight service”, it’s not the first time that passengers have complained of a relaxed attitude from staff. On 4 September, Jessie Kunkel tweeted a picture of a flight attendant with her mask pulled down while speaking to a passenger, captioned: “@Allegiant how am I supposed to feel safe flying when my chatty Kathy flight attendant isn’t even wearing her mask properly and keeps taking it off?!? ?” Another Twitter user wrote of their Allegiant Air flight in August: “Had to fly home this week and gave @Allegiant a try for their said safety priorities.