There’s a certain visual absurdity in seeing an airline passenger dressed like she’s entering a nuclear reactor after a meltdown or a burning building, but I tend to think Alaska Airlines acted even more absurdly in kicking her off a flight in another argument over PPE.
Alaska Airlines Kicks Off Woman Who Wore Too Much PPE
Judy Ferguson, 75 and terminally ill with lung disease (pulmonary fibrosis), was traveling from Fairbanks to Seattle on Alaska Airlines. During boarding, she donned an N95 mask with a face shield over it. But onboard, she took those off and placed on a respirator helmet, pictured below.
Such masks are not permitted due to their exhaust valves, and Ferguson was approached by a flight attendant, who offered her a complimentary 3-ply mask. Apparently, an argument ensued. Initially, Ferguson flatly refused to take off her respirator helmet.
Eventually, she put back on her N95 mask and visor, but by this time Alaska Airlines decided she was a “risk” and a supervisor boarded and promptly demanded she get off the plane in order to discuss her issue.
Per Alaska Public Radio:
“Ferguson says a couple of Alaska Airlines workers grabbed her carry-on bags and escorted her off the airplane. She says she was met at the gate by an airport police officer, who forcefully escorted her to the ticket counter. She says an Alaska Airlines ticket agent offered to book another flight in two hours, if she calmed down. But she refused, and left the airport.”
Ferguson says she was manhandled while being escorted off the aircraft, resulting in bruising. While she has thus far indicated she is not intending to file a lawsuit, if I were Alaska Airlines I’d start preparing for one now…
Then again, authorities note she was “uncooperative and disruptive.”
But hasn’t that just become a boilerplate defense?
Alaska Airlines has also refused to address any of the specifics of what happened onboard.
CONCLUSION
If Ferguson did, in fact, take off her helmet and place her mask back on, she should have been cut some slack…she’s much closer to death than most of us are…and allowed to fly.
A little empathy goes a long way. I understand that argumentative passengers can pose a flight risk, but come on…how risky is a senior citizen fighting to wear even stronger protective equipment than is permissible? Probably not a terrorist…
(H/T: View from the Wing)
How is some who is so “prepared” not aware of the ban against PPE with exhaust valves?
In my line of work, folks like her tend to have pretty short fuses (stereotype intended).
What about putting a surgical mask over the exhaust valves? Does that solve the problem? Because at the end, the face mask let’s air out on the sides, bottom and top (people who wear glasses know). And the only way you’re not breathing the virus in is with a filtered half face or full face mask with P100 filter… The surgical, 3 or 5 layer masks or cloth mask with PM2.5 filters only prevents the person wearing the face mask from spreading droplets and the virus in the air for a very short distance. But at the end you’re still breathing the air around you with no filter in between, remember that the virus is airborne. Stays up in the air for up to 3 hours. So, you can be walking right into an area with the virus in the air and breath it in with a surgical, 3 or 5 layer or a cloth mask. It reduces the chance but with no filter there is still a chance of breathing the virus in. The 3M half and full face mask does have a cloth filter in the exhaust preventing droplets from coming out and the exhaust is pointing downwards only downwards. Can’t see why the half or full face mask isn’t allowed when some doctors, nurses, chemist, etc use it also.
I agred with the Airline. A respirator mask with ventilators pushing her exhalation out to everyone else on the plane, would be a risk that I would not want to be a part of, had I been on that plane.
Furthermore, if we extend the line of thought here from the distorted conclusion, she would be allowed to shoot anyone with a gun that disagreed with her on anything, because she is old and close to dying herself !!!!! NOT !!!!!!!!!!!!
Out of ignorance, people here are commenting that those filter masks are better than the N95 and other regular masks. I can say without equivocation. that is not true. Masks with ventilators are a ineffective because the person’s breath is propelled when exhaling. It defends the person wearing it, but, it puts those in vicinity at greater risk.
HEY JOSE WITH A WEIRD TWO NAMES…
YOU HAVE NO SAY ABOUT ANYTHING IN MY AMERICA!
YOUR KIND ALWAYS CAUSE TROUBLE EVERYWHERE. WE WAND THE UBUMYA-UBUMYA FOREIGHN VOTERS TO GET OUT AND STAY OUT OF AMERICA!
No MORE CRIMINAL ILLEGAL MEXICANS IN AMERICA! WE NEED A BIGGER WALL WITH LAND MINES SND SHARP SHOOTER AMERICANS TO PROTECT MY SACRED COUNTRY FROM DIRT LIKE YOU!
Good evening President Trump! How nice of you to weigh in on our little forum here. But shouldn’t you be Tweeting? Or recounting votes? Or packing your bags to get out of the White House? Thanks for a wonderful four years and if I’m ever near Riker’s Island in the future, I’ll be sure to pop in for a visit.
All the best,
your pal for life, A. Hitler
The virus is spread through droplets landing in another persons mouth, nose or eyes. Seriously?? Leave people alone if they are wearing a mask. Those breaking holes are for air flow. Not spittle.
Also, if I’m not wearing a mask, I’m not gonna talk to you so there is no chance of spittle being sent to someone in my bubble. Stay away from me. Don’t talk to me. Don’t tell me to put a mask on because then I may speak without a mask, to defend myself and my actions. And I’ll tell you F-OFF.
Those mask have filters so better protection than the cloth mask. This is the same mask that the resources who clean the plane use. Cloth mask protect you and not the person wearing it. So she did what she needed to do to protect herself and the people around here. I would love to sit next to her on the plane; better then these other idiots I have to ask to cover their noses constantly.
There’s a reason why they ask you to cover your nose also and not just your mouth. It’s not spreading only through droplets… You can close your mouth all you want but you can still release it into the air through just breathing through your nose. It’s airborne and droplets don’t stay in the air.
Wow, you value your life over everyone else to the point of committing violent murder. You need therapy and medication.
People who never wear masks are the lowest chasm ever if getting COVID-19 at 3.86% according to CDC website. People who always wear masks are at 74.6% of Covid-19 clients.
I read those aren’t exhaust veggies but intake vents.
The 3M half and full facemask have two filters on each side that are intakes and have one exhaust in the middle. You can take off the cover for the exhaust and you’ll see around exhaust with holes and a piece a cloth preventing droplets to leave. And the plastic cover let’s the air flow out downwards.
Sergio, you are so smart! I have a couple questions for you if you happen to see this.
1. Do you feel lysol disinfectant spray only kills surface germs or also aeresols ?
2. I know the N95 masks with valves don’t protect those around you. But because the vent opens, does it also affect the wearer in that when they talk can’t viruses come IN too ? Or does it only affect those around you because it opens out ? I always wear a surgical mask on top of mine but was just curious.
3. You mentioned filters. Is this only for cloth and surgical masks or do you recommend them for the N95 as well ?
Thank you !!! 🙂
No slack, no mercy. Screw her. Cooperate, or get the fuck off the plane and get on the Banned For Life list.
Too many a-holes think the rules don’t apply to them. It’s time to make examples out of every single idiot who thinks they’re so special they don’t have to behave. Every single one of them.
Fuck off, lady.
Dick Baptist eloquently illustrates kohlberg’s first stage of moral development. His angry tirade epitomizes the lowest level of moral growth. Unfortunately, there are 5 more stages that he will never begin to comprehend. According to him, the famous case of the very sick little girl on the documentary AIRPLANE, should never have happened because her health needs would go unmet. She never would have had the caring nun sing her a pleasant song. Relax a bit, homes.
You’re name suits you.
Your*
There are rules to fly in the pandemic to keep everyone safe which are spelled out for every idiot to read. STAY HOME IF YOU WONT COMPLY!
Well stated.
You’re name suits you.
Yeah way to get on that 75 year old lady’s ass. You sure showed her. Dick.
The gear she chose to wear had exhaust vents — so it helps her, but does nothing for the people around her. The whole point of wearing masks is to prevent you from venting aerosols, thus protecting others nearby.
She could have called the airline in advance of her flight and worked out a solution acceptable to everyone. She chose not to and experienced the consequences.
It’s not a helmet. It’s a full face respirator.
It is not higher level protection. As the level of protection is determined by the need. In this case a full face respirator is a lower level of protection than pulling your shirt over your mouth and nose.
She wasn’t wearing “too much PPE” She wasn’t wearing appropriate PPE.
Dick….you seem to have a issue with women. What is your problem to where you have to talk nasty about this ill person. She needed to travel and was only trying to protect herself in the process. Also, do you think by using explicit language makes you a bigger man. Well it doesn’t. It makes you look like a complete fool and a person who has many issues. Go get some help.
Very poor writing and editing here. It demonstrates the sad state of journalistic affairs.
“Eventually, she put back on her N95 mask and visor, but by this time Alaska Airlines decided she was ‘risk’.”
“While she has thus far indicated she is not intended to file a lawsuit”
Why use antiquated, grandiloquent language, like “thus,” if you can’t even employ proper verb tense?
I know, I know. People will jump on me and say that I’m being overly critical. That’s what people tend to do when the writer is of the so-called dominant group. If the writer is an FBA, of course, the same people will drag the writer for using improper grammar. I like to remind them that we learned (and still do—just look at the makeup of US teachers at most schools) English from poor representatives of the language, and those reps still bludgeon the language at every turn, as exemplified here.
These aren’t “typos.” They are outright errors that someone failed to correct.
About the article’s substance:
The old bitty is just an aging Karen. Nothing new here. I think it pairs well with my previous point that “some” people refuse to follow the rules, but the same people sure do love to enforce the rules if someone who doesn’t look like they do doesn’t comply. Many times, they accuse “others” even when the others do follow the rules. Both—the geriatric Karen and the writer—are poster children of America’s bigotry.
We’ll issue you a prompt refund Karen, um, I mean Kali. Peace be upon you.
Refusal to take responsibility for your failings? Also classic. Exactly as expected. Fail on!
..lily.
Jesus is not gonna save you… your a trash bag
Your treatise on grammar and spelling is hilarious when you can’t even spell ‘biddy’ correctly. But you keep on fighting the good fight, comment Karen! Hopefuy, nobody will kick you off a plane when you’re old, gray and terminally ill.
Wow, your a smart one Kali! All that tirade to end it in nasty remarks about an ill woman. Hope you never face an illness like hers, but you know what they say about Karma!! And why bring a racist remark in there?!
Your mother must be so proud to have raised a caliber and quality of a man who would treat an elderly woman that way. I’m guessing you would push a handicap person down a flight of stairs as you flee a burning building.
I beg your pardon but really really sucks a whole lot.
No compassion for the Love of God.
What this lady did was technically wrong. And I get it, she is a risk, because once the plane is in the air, it’s harder to get her off the plane.
All that said, the flight attendant probably should have looked the other way. As much as I don’t like inappropriate ways of wearing a mask, this lady really has no choice. Her well-being is much more important than policy.
She likely has idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. She’s really not that close to death, months to years. She’s able to fly in a partially pressurized cabin and has no O2 concentrator. But she’s relatively young and needs care.
University of Washington serves what’s called the WAMI (Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, Idaho) for specialized care as these states have no large medical centers. she has a medical condition requiring travel to UW. Given the severity of her illness and absolute need to travel, this is a case of the need of the one being greater than the needs of the many around her. Incredibly sad story.
On the side bar there is a link to “Thrown Off a United Airlines Flight for Taking Pictures!”
Would you say the author did was technically wrong?
It is absurd to ban anyone for using P100 filter respirators. Put a sock on the exhaust valve and you protect everyone at a higher level than the pathetic surgical masks that the airline preferres. Where the highly touted N95 face mask is suggested to be reserved for first responders catches 95% of particles 3 microns and larger the P100;is certified to catch 100%. Had I been on the plane I would have walked off with her in solidarity. The tyrannical attitude of airlines ( refusals to allow for refunds with a covid contact self quarantine etc.) is the foundation of a growing sentiment of “To hell with Airline bailouts!” customer service must return to the industry.
P100 filters remain available, and should be used more than they are. If the sight of the frail of health protecting themselves is scary for you, Get over It. Surgical masks somewhat protect you from my spital p100 protects me from you. Just stick a sock on the exhaust port.
Fact is this woman had exhaust valves on her mask. So she may be extremely well protected, but none of the others on the plane are protected if she were a carrier. The whole point of all of us wearing a mask is to be unselfish in our own comfort for the benefit of all. By wearing a helmet with exhaust valves she was selfish and cared only about herself.
Sheeple. I hope you get Biden for president. Weak suck
You must be joking! Saying the flight attendant should have looked the other way? She had no choice? And the need of one is greater than the need of many? Her doing the “old switch a roo” of swapping out her mask for a respirator once she was on the plane tells me she already knew Alaska’s policy on PPE. It’s at their discretion to have the practices and policies that they do and if a passenger can’t abide, they need to ask for consideration, or find another form of travel. It’s a slippery slope when the public starts to believe some rules don’t apply to them.
Context is king and it’s better not to look at this as binary choices. She could have talked to her. They could have gotten off the ground, where enforcement and what the flight attendant “had to do” would change.
And yes, a single asymptotic passenger with IPF having to go to the _only_ place possible to provide her care for a dangerous condition, where your chance of u killing her with a virus than her killing u with a virus all need to be factored. Do the math. The need of the one wins here, even on statistical payoff basis.
Lots of unknowns remain here. As in how dangerous are valved masks, what her chances of being asymptomatic with covid, and exactly how much benefit she derives from world class care for a condition that has minimally effective treatment.
But if you don’t think this is tragic for her and this is similar to some Trump supporter or two year old not wearing a mask, that’s simply not the case.
What I am seeing over and over is an incredible amount of a lack of common sense, because of fear and companies demanding you do it “their way”. Sometimes other ways may even make more sense.
Airlines must do what they determine in the best interest of probably 160 people here. Did she exaggerate her condition in attempt to get sympathy? Possibly intention Nally causing the flight crew to feel she was a health risk to herself at that point in time? The airlines are not in business to lose money, and every incident like this hurts them (as evidenced by all these comments). People try to take advantage, break rules, and plea bargain thousands of times a day. They have to keep a firm line, or no one will follow any rules in today’s culture.
I beg your pardon but really people…should we not show a little bit of consideration since the young lady is already in her seat!
No compassion for the Love of God.
Look the other way?
Sorry but those type are not allowed on an aircraft and what happens once they take off and she puts it back on?
That isn’t a mask that helps get breathe. It’s a gas mask and those pink things are a type of charcoal canister that filters particulates from the air being inhaled. It does nothing to filter her exhaled breath. She could’ve worn a cloth mask underneath and it would’ve been safe for her and her neighbors on the plane.
My uncle flies for Alaskan airlines. I get free flights whenever I want them. at this point I am considering paying for my future flights just to avoid Alaskan airlines and Frontier both, as they’re owned by the same company. Absolutely despicable the way they treat their passengers and paying customers.
Not true. Frontier and Alaska Airlines are totally separate companies, always have been. Horizon, the commuter (regional) airline owned by Alaska Airlines’ parent company, did fly some routes for Frontier, but that was about 12-15 years ago. They ended the contract early after maybe two years.
Who is Alaskan Airlines??
Your uncle works for them and you fly them free whenever you want yet you dont even know the name of the airline!!
First of all it’s Alaska Airlines not Alaskan and they are not owned by the same company .
Think about all the lives she endangered by switching masks while on the plane.
Probably the same AS anti-mask FA that was on our flight from AK who thought it ok to remove mask in the gallery so she could talk (not eating).
Alaska was a much better airline before they took over Virgin.
I am so tired of the eating and drinking excuse to not wear the mask for extended periods of time. Eating should not even be allowed on short flights. For drinking they can put a straw in their drink, put that straw under their mask and drink fast. For long flights eating fast not facing people, facing the window if possible. Inconvenience is nothing compared to the risks here.
What is the difference if you take off your mask to eat and drink or change out your mask. Your statement is ridiculous.
Where is the gallery on an airplane?
A couple of weeks ago I was flying on Alaska Airlines and was wearing the mask that I thought protected me and others best. It was an N95, with a neck and head strap that provided an excellent fit. I had a flight on Horizon and then changed to Alaska in Seattle. When boarding on Alaska I was given a cheap mask and told to either wear it alone or put it over the mask I was wearing since the mask I was wearing had an exhaust valve. The mask I was given had the 2 ear straps and I couldn’t get it to stay on, plus wasn’t a good fit and leaked a lot of air at the edges. I was naive in thinking that my N95 provided good protection to others, but I didn’t think the cheap mask Alaska provided me was any better.
Skinord, why wouldn’t you wear the disposable mask over your N95 with valve? It sounds like you only wore their disposable one? That’s what I do. This way you have the best protection whilst not rising others health around you.
Is it even safe for a 75 year old to wear a mask like that for many hours? You have no idea what I see people wearing around here. How about a guy wearing a motorcycle helmet with visor closed while shopping at Costco?
My favorite sighting was a guy buying meat at the deli counter wearing a welder’s mask.
Wear cloth or surgical masks over the expiratory valves… Easy. Tape them on if you have to.
Better yet, maybe everyone should stop acting like masks do anything and let us get back to our lives.
The surgical masks and some cloth catch the bigger respiratory droplets. The aeresols they really can’t, thus comes in the hard to get N95. Still if it’s all you have at least it will be a smaller load. Also, while the N95 protects both the wearer and others, surgical protects those around you more so but if everyone wears one then you too are protected at least for the larger droplets that will make you more sick than aeresols. Of course we want to stay away from aeresols if we can being that we don’t know what our bodies can and can’t handle. This info I’m providing is accurate and been around for many months. Please try to keep up. You’re welcome.
Brandon, you have the best comment! Flight attendants do not have authority to change the airline’s policies or the FAA regulations. If something is irregular it is to be reported to the captain, who then communicates with ground agents/supervisors. They risk fines or reprimands by not complying with rules.
Imagine if 20 people did this, then it would delay flights, create hostility, and possible financial loss, etc. One person does not have the power to override such matters. If the rules are not suitable to you, then you must adjust yourself, not the airline adjust to you.
More like the worst comment because it encourages people to not be safe. The problem with not being safe is that it affects more than that one person. If it was just that one person, go ahead and be dumb. But don’t mess with others health.
Matthew, I wish there were email notifications when someone posts. I really wanted to hear Sergio’s opinion on a few questions I posed but he may never see it.
Wait, weren’t you taken off a flight because you claimed you were not a terrorist?
Back on point… the reason why people are wearing a mask is not just to protect themselves, but to also protect others. The helmet she has valves, which means it’s not eligible.
You’re right, but my point was she took that off and put her N95 back on (without valves). Why, then, did she have to get kicked off? Of course she was going to be angry. But she calmed down and complied.
Ya know? I keep asking myself the same thing. I lit up a cigarette, took a few drags. The attendant told me I broke the rules, so I put it out and calmed down. But they still made me get off the plane. I don’t get it! I complied. Really, I did……
That’s a ridiculous analogy. Everyone knows smoking is banned on flights for decades now. This new mask situation is new to most of us and she may have been confused. Naturally she wanted to protect herself with an N100 device that is even safer than N95. She may have not known or realized the problem with it and panicked when they said she can’t wear it. It’s not like she didn’t have other things on her mind. I can’t imagine the stress this poor woman must be under flying while so at risk, knowing she’s at risk plus the uncomfortableness of all she has to wear to feel somewhat safe. But it was necessary for her to see her doctor. So she got upset, she’s human. She was not a safety risk to others like the anti masker who not not only refused to wear a mask but hit a flight attendant. She ultimately complied that’s the bottom line, they should not power trip. I am always on airlines side when it comes to our safety, but unlike a jerk refusing to wear a mask at all, this situation was very different. Therefore they should have let her use her N95 backup with her face shield.
She did not initially comply, and she was disorderly. What part about that eludes you? If she wants to fly (and I don’t think she should if she’s in such poor condition), then she needs to FOLLOW THE RULES. There is no “Karen Exemption” clause. Smh
The woman is terminal and was flying to Washington State for treatment for her condition, which is basically her lungs fibering to the point they cannot expand or contract. My aunt died of this in 1995, basically suffocated over a period if months in the hospital. Often it is a late result of polio, which my aunt had a severe case of in the 1950s and had braces on her legs and crutches for the rest of her life. Other accounts I have read stated her mask did have filters on her exhaust valves and had been pre approved by Alaska Airlines prior to the flight, which is why AA won’t comment…
Candace Owens….is that you posing as a Kali Kross? Who are you to dictate when that poor woman should and should not fly. She was going to an urgent medical appt. Shame on you. So because she wasn’t initially compliant she deserved not flying despite being compliant later? She was stressed out!!! Floyd wasn’t compliant, to you does that mean he got what he deserved? Non compliance in Floyds case was a misdemeanor, misdemeanors don’t result in death sentences. You are too judgemental and cold. I ultimately agree that she should not wear anything that can hurt others, but there was an easy fix for that, like covering the valve with another mask. I feel like you aren’t so much pro mask safety and are just pissed that masks are a thing now.
Alaska Airlines has been openly cavalier in prioritizing revenues over public health during the pandemic. If Judy is seeking additional incompetent anecdotes to bolster her case, I have an a solid one to share. And, don’t bother submitting your concerns on Alaska Cares. They clearly don’t as they won’t respond to your inquiry. Instead, they will send you passive-aggressive customer satisfaction surveys linked to your traveler profile. I’m glad they are getting negative press. They deserve it. I’m sorry this happened to you, Judy…but you are not the first victim of their unpredictable tone-deaf insensitivity.
Despite my loyalty to AKAir, I fully recognize their failings. Too many bad experiences to list, but I find all carriers in my region to be cavalier. I would join Judy on a picket line in full HazMat gear.
In need of sensitivity? Drive your care, or ask your adult children to charter you a Cessna.
That’s an asinine statement. You expect her to drive 500 miles to the Canadian border, drive through Canada, then another 200 miles to the hospital for treatment, then make the trip back, in winter no less. The mercy you show is the mercy you’ll get and I don’t mean non-existant karma.
As a crew member, an instant red flag to me would also be how quickly she’d be able to don an oxygen mask if there’d be a rapid decompression when she’s wearing all that PPE. I know first hand (though not from onboard, but from pressure chambers where we train) how quickly you lose your senses, and how quickly you have to react, and having a lot of stuff to remove first could make all the difference.
@Oliver: good point.
thank you
LMAO… there’s always some idiot.
I only flown 1 time in this airline but these people are rude sobs never will I get on one of their aircraft’s
If you uncle really flies for Alaska airlines you should know it is ALASKA AIRLINES
Where is the gallery on an airplane?
Over the years I have picked up some unusual attitudes about commercial aviation due to having lived in Alaska as a tween/teen, and nearly graduating class of 1965 from Kenai AK HS.
High schools should offer flight training just like drivers ed.
The ideal capacity for a commercial aircraft, that balances risks best, is that of a DC3. At least a 20 pax plane is not carrying enough fuel to blow up a major building like 9-11.
It’s ok to risk everyone’s life to eat a potato chip. You should see the pictures I took of the AA employee at the gate desk with mask hanging from his ears. If you believe in mask wear one to protect yourself. If you don’t be free. It’s all BS. Until we have a vaccine it won’t stop. Idiots wear mask then pull them off to touch their face. Basically everything you touch is a source of transmission.
Dick,
YOU SURE ARE ONE APTLY NAMED JERK.
– were you an angry child?
This whole airline requirement is a joke! While now filling the middle seat and being a few feet from the passenger in front and behind you eating without masks and talking how is anyone protected? Getting on and off by rows doesn’t do a thing either when there are people packed together assembling luggage, etc. Having flown a dozen flights on various airlines in the last few months I have realized that its a personal risk one takes to travel. Take a window seat and look up to see dust around the ducts so are the extreme filters really being used? Give the gal a break, I doubt if she really wanted to fly
And stop roughing up the grammas, Alaska!
Viruses are so small I dought the masks are effective
The vented equipment maybe great for her but not other Pax. Vented masks or “helmets” are not allowed in aircraft for obvious reasons. As a gate agent I’m certain AS agent complied with training. One chance to comply or off you go. What’s to stop an argumentative pax from putting headgear back on when airborn? Nothing.
Off you go. Sorry not sorry. If you are THAT SICK (TERMINAL?) Should you be on a plane?
Your a f**** idiot she had canisters on her respirator. Which means no harm yo others as her exhaust fumes as you all called it is filtered. The person earlier who agreed with the airlines is also a dumb f****** sheep who believes that wearing a mask is going to keep him or his family or anybody else see if that was the case then people that would that do Asbestos and lead and Hazmat when we’re a piece of fabric over their face to wake up you f****** idiot
This is outrageous! Flight attendants who don’t believe in proper masking are in no position to enforce it on passengers!
-Anna Geeks