Spirit Airlines changed the wording of a tweet claiming that a couple in New Jersey did not comply with their mask protocols, after videos of a Monday flight were kicked off of them, a flight attendant apparently masquerading the young children of the couple on board quoted.
The budget carrier initially said Ari and Avital Eisenberg, of Toms River, NJ, refused to pursue a federal mandate requiring airline passengers to wear masks. The couple were with their children – Rikki (2) and Daniel (7) who have special needs – after spending Passover in Florida.
“We are aware of incorrect information circulating about Spirit Airlines Flight 138 from Orlando to Atlantic City. The flight was delayed because the adults in the party did not meet the federal mask requirement,” the airline’s original statement said while family and everyone was noticed. the passengers were unloaded from the plane before they could board again.
The couple told Fox News in an exclusive interview that an air hostess kicked them out of the plane because Rikki did not comply with the airline’s mask policy, which stipulates that passengers 2 years and older must wear a mask. Avital Eisenberg, who is seven months pregnant, said she also explained that her son had frequent seizures and that the covering of his mouth could cause it and promised to do her best to make sure he kept the covering on.
“I told you, if you do not comply – you will have to get off. I did not want to do that,” said a flight attendant who was not the crew member who initially confronted the family.
“We are wearing masks,” Avital Eisenberg said, according to video recordings of the incident.
“She is not wearing one,” said the flight crew member about the 2-year-old sitting on her mother’s lap and eating yogurt. “The pilot wants to let you go.”
After video footage showed flight crew members quoting the maskless children for daily transportation, the airline deleted a tweet with its original statement and released a new one omitting the word ‘adults’.
“The flight was delayed due to compliance with the federal mask mandate,” the amended sentence reads.
“I have no words. Madness on the next level. I understand if I gave anyone an attitude … but there was nothing of it. We were about to rise,” Ari Eisenberg told Monday exclusively Fox News said. “Everything was right and suddenly someone came up to us and asked us to transplant. We listened to them and had nothing to say. I kept asking what we did not comply with and nothing to say.”
Avital Eisenberg calls the experience ‘traumatic’ for her children.
“My son missed his medication window. Thank God he had no attack. He sat there in a soaking wet cloth because I could not change him during the whole affair,” she said. “My daughter is going crazy over all this. It was an awful horrible experience to go through, let alone anyone with a child with special needs.”
Spirit Airlines said it was sticking to its initial statement to Fox News, the company said.
It was reported for the first time via several outlets that a male flight attendant who originally made the request was allegedly not allowed on the flight again and was seen being escorted out of the plane by Orlando police officers. But Spirit Airlines told Fox News: “There is also no truth in claiming that the police were involved in or removed a flight attendant. Orlando police have publicly stated that although they were present at the gate , they did not take an active role in this situation. ”
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The family was eventually allowed to board again and made it home. The flight attendant who originally confronted the family may not be on the flight again and was escorted by Orlando police officers from the plane.