The incident is the latest in a long line of incidents and disputes involving passengers as a result of the federal mandate to wear masks.
An American Airlines plane that was flying to London on Wednesday night had to return to the Miami airport because of a passenger who refused to wear a mask, depending on the airline.
The flight AAL38 had been flying over the Atlantic for an hour. and had covered about 800 kilometers of route when, at the height of North Carolina, it had to turn and go to the airfield in South Florida (USA), as stated on the specialized website FlightAware.
American Airlines stated that the Boeing 777, which was carrying 129 passengers, had to be diverted due to “a rowdy customer who refused to comply with the federal mask requirement”.
Upon the arrival of the flight at the Miami terminal, police officers were waiting, although it has not been reported if the passenger was detained.
The fact is the last of a long list of incidents and disputes involving passengers in the wake of the federal mandate to wear masks during flights.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), during the year 2021 a total of 4,290 incidents related to masks were reported, and so far this year 92 cases have been recorded until 18 December. January.
Among the most notable cases is that of a 20-year-old man who was arrested after punching a flight attendant in the nose during an American flight from New York to California, an event that was described by the airline’s management as “one of the worst displays of rowdy behavior we have ever witnessed.”
The protocols against covid-19 imposed during flights to combat the spread of the pandemic have led to a increase in incidents and violent acts on aircraft, according to entities of the sector.
In 2021, the FAA received a total of 5,981 reports from US airlines about rebellious passengers, of which 1,081, that is, 183 more than in 2020, deserved an investigation that led to 350 legal actions.
Last week, an American Airlines plane that was going to take off from San Pedro de Sula (Honduras) to Miami had to stay on the ground due to a passenger who got into the cockpit and caused damage in the flight instruments, as confirmed by the airline. (I)
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