Two passengers onboard a Delta flight from Detroit to Atlanta were removed from the flight after refusing to wear their masks.
What We Know:
- The incident occurred July 23 on Delta’s Flight 1227 from Detroit to Atlanta. According to company representative Emma Kate Protis, the aircraft returned to the gate shortly after taking off when the two passengers did not comply with the instructions of the crew members. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Delta has shifted their travel conditions.
- The company’s website states, “Delta customers and employees are required to wear a face mask, or appropriate cloth face covering over their nose and mouth throughout their travel, aligning with best practice guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).” The CEO of Delta, Ed Bastian says he will ban people from the airline for life if they do not comply with the new guidelines of wearing face coverings.
- Bastian says Delta has banned more than 100 people from traveling their airline because of their refusal to wear face coverings. He has not released whether the two passengers who were removed are banned from the airline. In addition to wearing masks, Delta has stated that those who “claim” they have a medical condition preventing them from wearing a mask must be cleared at the airport or “consider another mode of transit”. Delta has a “Clearance-to-Fly” procedure which involves a screening done with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and STAT-MD.
- Delta isn’t the only airline to require face coverings and social distancing. American Airlines has required all people with the exception of children and those who have medical conditions to wear face coverings. United has also stated that they will ban those passengers who do not wear face coverings. Delta, Southwest, Jet Blue, and Alaska Airlines have also started to leave seats open between passengers to ensure social distancing.
According to the CDC, there have been 4.6 million cases across the United States with 154,000 deaths.
