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More Flyers Refusing to Wear Face Coverings Cause Chaos on Aircraft

A flyer waits at an airport wearing a face mask.

A flyer waits at an airport wearing a face mask.

Two flights over the past four days have been delayed because passengers refuse to wear face masks aboard the aircraft. Claiming protections through federal regulations, the government is now warning travelers that there are no blanket exemptions from face mask mandates by private corporations or public entities.

Flyers who claim to be asserting their personal rights by not wearing a face covering due to the COVID-19 pandemic caused flights to be delayed, or outright returned to the gate over the past four days. Two documented incidents show how airlines are responding when flyers won’t follow stated policy.

Delta Flight Returned to Gate Over Two Passengers Not Wearing Face Coverings

The first incident took place on Thursday, July 23, 2020, aboard a Delta Air Lines flight from Detroit Metro Airport (DTW) to Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL). ABC affiliate WXYZ reported Delta Air Lines Flight 1227 was returned to the gate after two passengers refused to comply with the airline’s face covering policy.

In statements to multiple media outlets, a Delta spokesperson confirmed the flight was delayed due to flyers being “non-compliant with crew instructions.” Its unclear if the flyers were allowed to continue to Atlanta, or if they were left behind.

Earlier in July, Delta announced their “Clearance-To-Fly” policy for those claiming to have a condition which prevented them from wearing a face covering during their flight. To qualify for the exemption, flyers must arrive at the airport at least one hour before their departure time and go through a tele-health screening facilitated by the airline.

American Flight Delayed Over Flyer’s Refusal to Wear a Mask

On Saturday, July 25, 2020, a second flight was delayed because a flyer refused to wear a face covering – and it was documented on Instagram. As reported by Mediaite, American passenger David J. Harris, Jr. posted a three-minute video showing the flight’s response to his refusal to wear a face covering.

 

After the video shows the captain offering re-booking on the next flight and discussing the situation with some passengers, Harris says he was allowed to stay on the flight without a face mask. He ends his video discussing personal rights, claiming the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and other federal regulations allow flyers to not wear face masks without disclosing their reasons.

FlyerTalk reached out to American Airlines for comment, but the Fort Worth-based carrier only pointed back to their enhanced face mask policy, going into effect on Wednesday, July 29, 2020. It is unknown if the flyer was allowed to stay on the flight without a face covering, or if they were placed on American’s internal ban list.

Can You Really Board A Flight Without a Mask?

While some claim that an airline can’t force flyers to wear masks aboard aircraft, the letter of the law suggests differently. An investigation by USA Today reveals the two laws that are most often cited in the fight over face masks – HIPAA and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) – don’t actually cover their purported civil rights. Private businesses can ask why a person is not wearing a face covering, and reserve the right to deny service if they are not wearing a face mask.

In addition, the U.S. Department of Justice is warning flyers about misinformation circulating on the internet. In particular, anything circulated with the agency’s seal may not be factual, and all official information will be provided on their website..

“Inaccurate flyers or other postings have been circulating on the web and via social media channels regarding the use of face masks and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” a DOJ warning reads. “Many of these notices included use of the Department of Justice seal and ADA phone number. As the Department has stated in a previous alert, the Department did not issue and does not endorse them in any way. The public should not rely on the information contained in these postings. The ADA does not provide a blanket exemption to people with disabilities from complying with legitimate safety requirements necessary for safe operations.”

10 Comments
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CaptHolic August 4, 2020

If you can smell a fart through a mask, it ain't stoppin no virus... Can't remember the comedian that said that recently but it made me laugh

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bloomz July 30, 2020

Typical Rumpanzee moron maskhole mouthbreathing dimwit who thinks he's smart, just like the Velveeta Vulgarian

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Historyappraiser July 29, 2020

Hear, hear for airlines adhering to mandatory masks on all flights. Anyone traveling in Asia, understands that mask culture works for all virus transmission and keeps people well for many years. It is so arrogant for "non-maskers" to put others at risk on a plane or other congested area. These people obviously don't need to fly if they can't obey the rules.

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Bohemiana July 29, 2020

@jjmore...Here is an article from The Lancet that summarizes thousands of research studies of similar viruses and reduces the results down to the "best" 172 studies. You can read the conclusions although it's a rather lengthy text. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31142-9/fulltext As others have said, a cloth mast does not guarantee anything. Social distancing does not guarantee anything. You can do anything you want in life, you don't have to wear a seat belt, you can punch someone in the face, you can urinate in public, etc. and there are legal and social consequences. But you did get me wondering, what is the big deal about not urinating in public or in your seat on a plane for a direct comparison? Is wearing clothes during the summer a big conspiracy by clothing manufacturers (who are mainly Chinese) to extort money? Is it worth living in a society if we have to follow rules and norms, or is it better to live free under our own beliefs in the woods? All things to consider but in the meantime, if you are flying on a plane that you don't personally own, you have to wear a damn mask.

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jrpallante July 29, 2020

The stupidity and selfishness exhibited by some Americans is truly astounding. It sounds like the same troglodytes who don't understand the benefits of vaccinations, despite the overwhelming scientific evidence. Nobody said that wearing a cloth mask will prevent YOU from getting sick. However, every time you cough, sneeze, or talk, you are emitting particulate matter into the air, which can make OTHER PEOPLE sick. If a cloth mask stops 50% of your emissions from entering my air space, then I am 50% better off. Since most of the anti-maskers seem to be mouth-breathers, they are spreading more than their share. It doesn't take years of research or peer-reviewed papers to comprehend that every drop of spittle you keep to yourself makes everybody else better off.