Delta Flight Returned to Gate, 2 Passengers Refused to Wear Masks
An Atlanta-bound Delta flight returned to the gate after two passengers refused to wear face masks. It happened Thursday at Detroit Metro Airport (DTW). WXYZ-TV says flight 1227 returned to the gate, but then departed after a short delay. Presumably without the two offending passengers on board.
This Has Happened a Few Times
The two passengers on Delta weren’t the only troublemakers last week. On Tuesday, American Airlines made a passenger find alternate transportation when she refused to put on a mask. And this time, passengers applauded her exit.
(Side note: Don’t ever call someone a “Karen,” as @BookofJonah did here. It’s unkind to the mostly great people who actually have that name. Sorry, I needed to say that).
Spirit Airlines had a passenger removed earlier this month. And let’s not forget self-described “former liberal” Brandon Straka. He’s also a former American Airlines passenger, after they banished him for refusing to wear his face covering.
We’re Just Over These People
The airline industry and nervous passengers have had enough of the disrespectful travelers. As these incidents demonstrate, airlines are clearly getting tough on their face mask policies.
We’ve all heard stories of anti-maskers claiming it’s their constitutional right not to wear a mask. Of course, that’s ridiculous. Government can pass regulations for safety purposes, and they do it all the time. Think seat belt laws and work place safety laws. Where face masks are required, it’s meant to protect others and slow the spread of Covid-19. So why would anyone think they have the right to endanger the safety of someone else?
In the United States, at least, there is no legal requirement for airlines to require face coverings. The airlines have made these decisions on their own. As private businesses, they have the right to do so and can ban customers who choose not to comply.
Final Thoughts
A Delta flight returned to the gate when 2 passengers refused to wear their masks. It’s just the latest incident, and there are likely to be more.
There are good reasons to wear face coverings on board. Earlier this month, three Delta passengers tested positive for Covid-19. Thanks to the airline’s mask policy, the other passengers on that flight can feel much more confident that the virus did not spread to them.
I applaud the airlines for making its customers and staff wear face coverings. Until Americans get better at wearing masks and following CDC guidelines, the United States will struggle to get Covid-19 under control. It’s nice to see the airline industry taking a leadership role.