2-Year-Old Experiencing Asthma Attack And His Mother Were Booted From Flight Because He Couldn’t Wear A Mask
A woman and her child were left traumatized by the treatment of flight personnel because her asthmatic 2-year-old son could not wear a mask.
A Dallas-Colorado flight was stopped in order to kick out a mother and her toddler.
Amanda Pendarvis and her son, Waylon, boarded American Airlines flight 1284 when a steward named Carl told her that her son had to put on a mask. The mother then tried to get her child to wear a mask, but he would not keep it on. Eventually, the crew recalled the flight and Amanda and Waylon were taken off the plane by police.
A video widely shared on the web shows the mother trying to make her toddler sit in one place before being escorted out of the plane.
When she later shared her thoughts about the incident on social media, she said the whole experience was “humiliating/traumatizing,” as per the Daily Mail.
“Way is asthmatic. We showed him a negative Covid test Way had yesterday. Told him he has asthma & has never worn [sic] a mask before,” Amanda said of conversation she had with the steward.
“He did not care that this asthmatic child was literally hyperventilating.”
As she narrated her ordeal, Amanda said:
“He got on the intercom and to say to the entire plane, ‘I’m sorry for the delay but we are dealing with a non-compliant traveler.’ I was not refusing a mask, nor did I even say I wouldn’t try to keep a mask on my son. We were escorted off the plane as I was holding a mask over his little face. I genuinely don’t have words.”
Wow. American Airlines kicked a 2 year old boy with asthma off a plane and had police waiting for him + his mom because a power tripping flight attendant Carl lost his humanity. The last thing you’d do to a child suffering from an asthma attack is force a mask on them. pic.twitter.com/pWuVXJrFps
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) September 15, 2021
No apology issued
Later on, American Airlines made a statement saying that the flight returned to the gate right before takeoff and added that the reason was a “party refusing to comply with crew member instructions.”
Flight attendants also said that the toddler was lying on the aisle floor while the plane was in motion on the runway and they reportedly tried to get him to get back in his seat.
“On Sept. 13, American Airlines flight 1284 returned to the gate prior to departure from Dallas-Fort Worth to deplane a party refusing to comply with crew member instructions to remain seated while on an active taxiway and to wear face coverings securely over their nose and mouth,” a spokesperson told Daily Mail.
“After agreeing to adhere to policies instituted for the safety of our customers and crew, all individuals were rebooked for travel on the next flight to Colorado Springs.”
“At no time was it made known to our crew members that a member of the party was experiencing an asthma attack,” they added.
Regarding a similar case, Charles Leocha, president and co-founder of the Washington, D.C., consumer advocacy group Travelers United, told Business Insider:
“Airlines that insist on having 2- and 3-year-old children wear masks at all times will always face problems. Treating a 2-year-old like a 30-year-old is foolish and unnatural.”
For YouTuber Joseph Morris’ take on the story, please see the video below.
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