Mother told to leave flight after asthmatic toddler son didn’t wear mask

A mother was removed from an American Airlines flight after her asthmatic toddler did not wear a mask.

Amanda Pendarvis claims that a “truly evil, power-tripping” flight attendant made her and her 2-year-old son leave the aircraft “to be met by police officers” after her son had trouble keeping his mask on as they were flying between Dallas and Colorado.

According to news.com.au, Pendarvis said: “He [the flight attendant] got on the intercom to say to the entire plane, ‘I’m sorry for the delay but we are dealing with a non-compliant traveller.

“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.

“He had the plane turned around and had us escorted off to be met by police officers. Why? Wait for it … because my two-year-old was not properly wearing a mask.”

Instagram / manasaywhaa

She said her son is asthmatic and alleged that the flight attendant “did not care” that the boy “was literally hyperventilating” despite presenting staff with a negative Covid test. The airline claim crew members were not told that the child was having an asthma attack.

In a video of the incident shared to social media, the child can be seen crying and looks visibly uncomfortable when Pendarvis tried to put a mask on him.

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American Airlines’ website states that under U.S. federal law passengers must wear a face covering at all times while indoors at the airport and on board the flight. Those refusing to wear one “may be denied boarding and future travel on American.”

These rules do not apply to those aged under two, or those with a disability that prevents them from wearing a face covering.

However, those with a disability seeking an exemption from the mask rule must contact American Airlines at least three days before travelling.

Numerous incidents have occurred in recent weeks of people being removed from flights in the US due to strict mask laws.

A woman was allegedly removed from a JetBlue flight in handcuffs after refusing to wear a mask on board a plane.

In a separate incident, a couple flying between Florida and California fell out with a flight attendant after allegedly refusing to wear masks.

In a statement to indy100, an American Airlines spokesperson said the party had “refused to comply with instructions to remain seated and to wear face coverings securely”.

The woman and her son were rebooked onto a later flight.

“On Sept. 13, American Airlines flight 1284 returned to the gate prior to departure from Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) 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,” the statement said.

“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 (COS).”

It is understood that police were present when the aircraft returned to the gate, but were not involved in deplaning the passengers.