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Home » Spirit » Police Remove Woman From Spirit Airlines Flight…For Eating?
Spirit

Police Remove Woman From Spirit Airlines Flight…For Eating?

Matthew Klint Posted onFebruary 22, 2021November 14, 2023 70 Comments

a man walking on an airplane

A woman flying to Florida on Spirit Airlines was removed after she refused to wear a mask. She claimed she was eating. After first warning that police would have to drag her off, she ended up begging the flight crew to let her stay and left without force.

Spirit Airlines Passenger Removed…For Eating? Or Mask?

We start with a discussion between the passenger and a flight attendant. The passenger claims she was eating while the flight attendant tells her she will not be traveling. The passenger then warns that she will have to be physically removed.

That’s never a good strategy…

The flight attendant leaves her and she goes up to chat with the flight attendant. She is wearing a mask. She even peaks her head into the cockpit before returning to her seat.

Police eventually board, tell her she won’t be traveling, mention that Spirit will refund her ticket, and she gathers her belongings and exits the plane without further drama.

Florida Woman Whines Like a Baby After Getting Kicked Off a Flight For Not Wearing a Mask from r/PublicFreakout

There’s one piece of information that makes me question this woman’s account. Did you catch it?

Note that at the 1:05 mark of the video above it appears that she is not wearing the mask over her nose or that she even deliberately moves it slightly below her nose.

Whatever your view on masks (and I do think it merits mentioning that the flu season was virtually non-existent this year in part due to masks), she is bound by federal mandate to wear the mask over her nose and mouth. That she seems to be wearing her mask improperly makes me think she was trying to be like the man who spent the whole flight eating a canister of Pringles, one at a time, in order to keep his mask off.

CONCLUSION

I’ve never encountered a flight attendant on any airline who will not allow you to correct a mask deficiency before throwing you off. Perhaps they exist, but I wonder how many times this woman refused to wear her mask before the video, claiming she was eating?

(H/T: C Boarding Group)

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About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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70 Comments

  1. Mayt2793 Reply
    February 22, 2021 at 3:24 pm

    It’s apparent that you’re a huge trump supporter. Your blog is the only bigoted travel blog out there.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      February 22, 2021 at 5:04 pm

      LOL. Hilarious.

      • Fed up Reply
        February 23, 2021 at 8:09 am

        How long are we going to pretend that this corporate behavior is normal?

      • Victor Bermudez Reply
        February 23, 2021 at 8:50 am

        Your Article doesn’t say where the flight originated? At first I thought it was Boston, but after seeing the cops I realized it’s not Boston.

        • Matthew Klint Reply
          February 23, 2021 at 10:16 am

          I was told it was Boston.

    • Dombrosky Reply
      February 22, 2021 at 10:04 pm

      I was on a Spirit flight they took off a man. He was sleeping as soon as boarded. His mask fell below nose , flight attended asked 3 seperate times. Ones she startled him and he MF-ed he. The turned around on tarmac and police escorted him off and he apologized to the passangers for delaying them. They tell you can remove to eat but needs replaced as soon as finished.

      • Paul Reply
        February 23, 2021 at 10:14 am

        Why do people need to assert their “rights”? Wear a mask and let’s get where we are going. Have respect for others. Stop being selfish infants.

        • Phil Reply
          February 23, 2021 at 12:24 pm

          Thanks for Flying “KAREN” AIrways, home of busybody, left – leaning, pearl clutching hysterics.

          • Fabiola Y Shur
            February 23, 2021 at 1:15 pm

            I fly SPIRIT ALL THE TIMES AND THEIR RULES ARE IF YOU EAT TAKE OFF YOUR MASK WHEN YOU FINISH EATING PUT THE MASK ON THAT HAVE BEEN THE SPIRIT AIRLINES RULES…I DONT UNDERSTAND WHY THEY TOOK THE LADY OUT…CAUSE THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT DIDNT KNOW HER OUR COMPANY RULES????

          • JoEllen
            February 23, 2021 at 5:53 pm

            @ Phil,
            Seriously, this is a “Karen” for you? Thankfully, some of us are irritated/ annoyed by bad behavior instead of accepting every wrong thing that comes down the pike.

    • Marlon Hemmingway Reply
      February 22, 2021 at 11:03 pm

      She can go sit in the waiting area while she wait for the next flight. Have a 5 course dinner with a glass of wine.While she figure out how she going to get another flight lol.

      • Dion Ray Reply
        February 23, 2021 at 6:46 am

        Mask Nazis, plain and simple.
        Is this author on the Spirit Airlines payroll or what?

        • Margie Reply
          February 23, 2021 at 11:55 am

          I’m a mask nazi too!!! If everyone would just wear a mask we could be finished with this deadly virus sooner!!! If you don’t want to wear a mask stay home & don’t fly!!!

      • Deede Reply
        February 23, 2021 at 8:08 am

        Attitude will get You No Where..lesson learned again. Nothing to see here, its not going away. Follow the rules, stop pushing the envelope, those days are over. The airlines don’t need you. They have already lost billions daily, your 249. Fare matters not. Enjoy your flight.

        • Donna Reply
          February 23, 2021 at 3:36 pm

          I have family and friends that are avid mask wearers, however they got Covid! I honestly don’t think it matters. They continue to find out different ways this virus is spread. I still don’t think they know everything about it.

      • JoEllen Reply
        February 23, 2021 at 5:50 pm

        Corrected your grammar for you ( plurals and apostrophes are your friend – you’ll sound sooooooo much better if you use them ) —
        — “She can go sit in the waiting area while she WAITS (plural) for the next flight. SHE CAN Have a FIVE course dinner with a glass of wine, while she FIGURES out how SHE’S going to get another flight”.

      • Free Citizen Reply
        April 7, 2022 at 5:32 pm

        Mandates have been lifted everywhere. How much longer with this mask nonsense! Hate Spirit air flight company. That was brutal what they did to the poor woman with kids and a husband. Everyone should boycott them. Unless they like to follow the nazis. then you can board on! Heil.

    • Erock Reply
      February 23, 2021 at 5:55 am

      Mayt2793,

      You must not follow this blog very often. Do us all a favor and stop posting.

      • Patricia Hart Reply
        February 23, 2021 at 12:58 pm

        And what about those that understand that the masks do NOT provide protection? Most if all, what about those of us who can NOT wear a mask? We have rights too. And if you feel that wearing a mask protects you, why do you care if I do not.

        • Donna Dunn Cochran Reply
          February 23, 2021 at 3:40 pm

          I absolutely agree with you!!! My youngest son Isaiah is totally against it. Now he will wear it for me because of having an autoimmune disease. He doesn’t want me to get sick. I always wear a mask when I go out for myself. I don’t think other people should be ridiculed for not wearing one. We all ha e a choice.

    • Clive Rayman Reply
      February 23, 2021 at 12:44 pm

      Why do you not use your real name? Is it because you are ashamed of your idiotic remarks?

    • Free Citizen Reply
      April 7, 2022 at 5:34 pm

      So what if “he is a Trump supporter”. Trump was elected by the majority at the time. That’s called FREEDOM OF VOTING. FREEDOM OF POLITICAL OPINIONS. HELLLOO??

  2. Derek Reply
    February 22, 2021 at 3:28 pm

    the Biden order requires one to wear a mask even while eating or drinking.

    Yes, you have to raise the mask after each bite and sip. That means extensive touching of our mask,

    A better rule would have simply been no eating or drinking allowed on any flight arriving in or departing from the USA. We had been advised to not touch our masks, yet Biden ordered us to do so

    • Rich Reply
      February 22, 2021 at 4:59 pm

      @Derek: A requirement to wear a mask and lower and raise it for each bite or sip would indeed be crazy, but that’s not what any order says. Where did you get that information from?

      President Biden’s order (https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/21/executive-order-promoting-covid-19-safety-in-domestic-and-international-travel/) says, in pertinent part, “the Secretary of Transportation (including through the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)) … shall immediately take action, to the extent appropriate and consistent with applicable law, to require masks to be worn in compliance with CDC guidelines in or on: … commercial aircraft ….”

      The CDC guidelines (https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/pdf/Mask-Order-CDC_GMTF_01-29-21-p.pdf) say, in pertinent part, “the requirement to wear a mask shall not apply under the following circumstances: While eating, drinking, or taking medication, for brief periods, ….”

      This seems perfectly reasonable.

      • Derek Reply
        February 22, 2021 at 6:03 pm

        https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/02/new-us-biden-transit-mask-rule.html

        “Travelers are permitted for brief periods to remove masks for eating, drinking, or taking medications but masks “must be worn between bites and sips,” TSA said.”

        Another source: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-biden-masks/new-u-s-transit-mask-rules-ordered-by-biden-take-effect-idUSKBN2A20FI

        • ChuckMO Reply
          February 22, 2021 at 6:47 pm

          I flew to PSP and back in Dec. The guy across the aisle from me had his mask down the entire flight as he nursed some snacks and drink for 2 hours.

          • Fed up
            February 23, 2021 at 8:12 am

            Get a life

    • Jalyn Breeze Reply
      February 22, 2021 at 8:22 pm

      OMG… As a working FA this rule has been passed down to us to enforce aboard the aircraft. We’re supposed to say “please cover your nose and mouth after each bite or sip” which is extremely annoying and it just makes people more frustrated. This is meant to curb the people who nurse a beverage or food item in order to not wear a mask. However, it just causes more problems.

      • Derek Reply
        February 23, 2021 at 11:10 am

        No issues with the FAs. You are just enforcing the rules as ordered.

        Th executive order is the main issue. It’s like someone didn’t not think out how absurd it really was with requiring the mask during meals

    • Neenee Reply
      February 23, 2021 at 2:15 am

      You’re on a plane. You chose that form of travel stop it. Being that the air in a plane is circulated every 2-4 mins with outside fresh air keeps the plane air cleaner than your house or a grocery store. Might want to Google. Social distance isn’t really gonna happen in a plan even with a seat in between. Wear your mask, keep a low flow of the air going during your flight and you will be fine. Sad that kids do better with the whole mask things and adults at like they are 6 years old. Its been a year as a FA I’m over having to babysit grown folks.

    • Erock Reply
      February 23, 2021 at 6:02 am

      It’s more to protect other people than yourself, so if you choose to eat it would be better for you to continually raise and lower it to reduce the amount of time you’re potentially exposing others.

      • Derek Reply
        February 23, 2021 at 9:18 am

        And by continuously raising and lowering your mask, you are putting yourself at danger by constantly touching your face.

        As I said, a no eating or drinking rule would be following the science far more than the current rule

        • Jake Eisenstein Reply
          February 23, 2021 at 5:00 pm

          Just take some food onboard with you and eat in the lavatory. It will be a while until they put cameras in lavatories to make sure you don’t eat.

  3. Christian Reply
    February 22, 2021 at 5:06 pm

    If penalties were more severe than putting someone on the next flight, then incidents like this would be minimized. Perhaps a decade on the no-fly list would set a proper example.

    • Chris Reply
      February 22, 2021 at 6:31 pm

      The more appropriate and more compliance attaining punishment would be to have a feeder bag filled with mac n cheese attached to your face for the duration of the flight. Fully covers nose and mouth, never taken off, and eat at all times, if desired.

      • Andreas Reply
        February 22, 2021 at 11:59 pm

        Let’s talk about how sexy those military personnel are. Wow. She was hot and he was sexy!

        • John McIntosh Reply
          February 23, 2021 at 4:56 am

          Moron author of this stupid article:
          There was no flu season because flu deaths were counted as covid deaths along with a lot of other things. If you were informed like I’m sure you think you are or had a brain capable of critical analysis, you would know that if you get hit by a bus and die, and you happen to test positive for covid, your death is counted as a death due to covid. You are a liberal retard.

          • Matthew Klint
            February 23, 2021 at 10:17 am

            Oh John. Not that simple.

    • Sue O'Brian Reply
      February 22, 2021 at 10:23 pm

      Are you a “CONTROL FREAK”. How abt a 6 mth no drive rule for not using an indicator? You sound ridiculous!!!

    • Jake Eisenstein Reply
      February 23, 2021 at 5:05 pm

      Yeah, more and more screws tightening makes the economy class a real cattle class. As if 9/11 didn’t ruin air travel for the poor folk enough.

  4. Chris Reply
    February 22, 2021 at 6:32 pm

    The more appropriate and more compliance attaining punishment would be to have a feeder bag filled with mac n cheese attached to your face for the duration of the flight. Fully covers nose and mouth, never taken off, and eat at all times, if desired.

    • Christian Reply
      February 22, 2021 at 7:00 pm

      Your idea certainly evokes a vivid image but it’s rather impractical. Nice job thinking outside the box though on trying to make the crazies follow the rules.

      • Robert J Azotea Reply
        February 22, 2021 at 11:23 pm

        Spirit Airlines sell food and drinks during flights… it must have been the 6 AM flights…those stewardess are all
        miserable any nasty

      • Paolo Maldini Reply
        February 23, 2021 at 1:14 am

        I think you’re an imbecile fot coming with such a measure. This kind of sick thinking is exactly what is wrong with this country.

      • Domenic Reply
        February 23, 2021 at 10:06 am

        These are draconian rules.Enough is enough ,, take the sub human masks off and live. If you are afraid then stay under your bed and don’t go out. It’s been a year and the goal posts are forever moving. Last time I checked I didn’t elect a scientist and these so called politicians were elected by the people not by the scientists that do not on care about economic or real life conditions

    • ROMUALDO MATULAC Reply
      February 22, 2021 at 11:10 pm

      LOL ! They sell food and drinks on the plane so how are you gonna ban people from eating and drinking ???…The only way to go is follow the rules..wear your mask for the duration of the flight…don’t argue with anyone and get to your destination in one piece and your expected time of arrival…problem solved…in this day and age and with all this problem and pandemic and all…who needs this kind of drama???

      • Kasey Reply
        February 23, 2021 at 12:35 am

        I cannot believe all the gullible people that believe anything St. Faucji says. If the mask will stop a “virus” ever wonder how you can smell thru it, or see your breath thru it when it’s cold? The highest rates of transmission are in states with most stringent mask rules, hmmmm. There is such research out there but it seems people like being controlled, which is a sad death knell to freedom.

        • Erock Reply
          February 23, 2021 at 5:59 am

          Kasey,

          That has to be the dumbest argument ever. Controlled? Lol. It makes no logical sense.

          And yes masks do work, it’s been tested and proven. Even if they cut down on transmission by 20% that would still significantly reduce the spread of the virus.

        • Donna Dunn Cochran Reply
          February 23, 2021 at 4:17 pm

          One thing that is strange to me is why don’t they don’t tell us to wear plastic gloves?

          One thing I have noticed is that this has divided us even more. We all have different opinions why is it necessary to bully each other because of it.
          We all have choices and differing opinions which that was actually taken away from us. But just because Someone chooses not to wear a mask gives no one the right to bully!!!
          Think about it. If I have a mask on and you don’t then what’s the problem?

      • Jake Eisenstein Reply
        February 23, 2021 at 5:08 pm

        Take food with you on onboard and eat in the lavatory with your mouth uncovered like a normal human being.

    • Donna Dunn Cochran Reply
      February 23, 2021 at 3:48 pm

      Lol….that is hilarious

      • Donna Dunn Cochran Reply
        February 23, 2021 at 3:54 pm

        The comment above was meant for another post, sorry.

  5. JB Reply
    February 22, 2021 at 7:14 pm

    Put her on the no fly list. The one blessing from all of the knuckle draggers blindly following Trump and his grifters is that we’ll have less idiots on board flights once it’s truly safe to move about again. Keep up the good work MAGA!

    • Kasey Reply
      February 23, 2021 at 12:45 am

      I think the woman was Pillosi in discuise or someone that sweetest dictators don’t abide by the rules, so why should this woman.. Knuvkle dragging fascist socalist dems

      • Patricia Hart Reply
        February 23, 2021 at 1:04 pm

        And if I come from any other country, I have to have a negative test, so…..what the heck is the reasoning? I am not sick.

        • Donna Dunn Cochran Reply
          February 23, 2021 at 3:55 pm

          Very good point!

  6. Jonathan Reply
    February 22, 2021 at 9:09 pm

    I left a similar comment on Gary’s page:

    I’m more concerned with the military style uniforms these “police” were wearing. Seriously, these faceless men(?) look like they belong in a war zone and not figurative American streets. The message these uniforms send is “FEAR ME and do as I say” rather than “please come to me when you need help; I’m your friendly neighborhood policeman protecting you from the bad guys.”

    Obviously attire alone is not that significant, but it does send a message (and not a very good one), in addition to furthering the “warrior” mind-set of these guys. If you dress a dude up as a military goon he will inevitably start to behave like one sooner or later.

    I’m actually generally in favor of masks–though I think the health absolutists need to cool it–but not if this is how the rule/mandate is going to be enforced.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      February 22, 2021 at 10:54 pm

      @Jonathan: Agreed. This is a concern I share. Actually, I almost mentioned it in my story (without having seen your comment) but thought it was a bit off-topic.

    • Maureen Reply
      February 23, 2021 at 12:38 am

      You’re generally in favor of masks? Do you feel the same about condoms?

  7. Chris mcwherter Reply
    February 22, 2021 at 11:33 pm

    People are crazy ! But I just flew Spirit three weeks ago . Can we talk about how all the plans are completely backed like you’re in a sardine can. I wear my mask all the time Evan for work. But how is it ok to just cram 140+ people in a small plane? Me and my wife travel together . That means there’s always another seat open next to us I was informed there wouldn’t be no one next to us that was Wrong! We had to random people on the way there and we’re on the way back . That’s not social distancinga at all

    • Donna Dunn Cochran Reply
      February 23, 2021 at 4:21 pm

      Well because of the man in charge rules can be bent! Or disregarded. Sorry, if you voted for him, not trying to be disrespectful to you!

  8. Keith Vavrinak Reply
    February 23, 2021 at 12:13 am

    Omg, the pansies coming out with “the police are too scary looking” bs. Did you think that maybe it’s the reason that they look serious about what they do that she followed their orders without question? The nice looking flight attendants she was arguing with and refusing to listen to. Not that hard to figure out.

  9. Tony Foresta Reply
    February 23, 2021 at 12:25 am

    That woman is a moron like – all the selfish disrespectful jerks who don’t wear masks.

    • Andreas Reply
      February 23, 2021 at 1:03 am

      Yummmmmm
      Yes.

      Get her offf. And keep the plane moving. No reason everyone else should suffer for her stupidity.

  10. Andreas Reply
    February 23, 2021 at 12:59 am

    Get her offf. And keep the plane moving. No reason everyone else should suffer for her stupidity.

  11. John McIntosh Reply
    February 23, 2021 at 5:02 am

    I just watched the video…..it was pure racism. It was about a black woman wanting to abuse her position to a really white woman with blonde hair. It happens to me all the time and I am white with blonde hair. Black women are the most racist people on the planet.

  12. Kimron Prentice Reply
    February 23, 2021 at 6:36 am

    I hate spirit airlines they full of shit, unprofessional, and getto af…. Hope they go bankrupt sorry ass airline ever…..

  13. Nick Reply
    February 23, 2021 at 12:00 pm

    Mask it, or casket. Your choice. That applies everywhere. It’s hard to defend your bad decision from the ICU. It’s impossible to do it from the grave…..

    • Patricia Hart Reply
      February 23, 2021 at 1:10 pm

      I have not worn a mask since this all began. I am an in person teacher around several hundred students daily. I go in stores and live my life. I have a medical mask exemption.

      I also have not been sick at all. The masks are overkill. As someone else said… If you are scared if it, stay home. It goes both ways.

      I also am NOT getting the vaccine. I just wish people would come to their senses.

  14. Jerry Reply
    February 23, 2021 at 1:35 pm

    I love when rather innocuous threads on this site just spiral out of control in the comment section. It’s especially fun when @Matthew is called both a “Trump Supporter” and a “Liberal R*****.”

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