A Canadian air flight was canceled after a child was not seen wearing a mask on the flight. But questions about what happened remain.
WestJet — a Canadian airline — is facing allegations that it canceled a flight, removed a passenger and called police all because a child wouldn’t wear a mask, according to BBC News.
Passenger Safwan Choudhry told the BBC News that his oldest daughter, who is 3, was eating a snack before a flight. A flight attendant asked her to put on a mask. She fussed for a bit but eventually obliged.
Choudhry said he had a hard time getting a mask on his 19-month-old daughter, though. The youngest daughter became upset and vomited.
According to Choudhry, WestJet became aggressive with him and told his family to leave the flight. If they didn’t, they could be arrested. The family ultimately decided to leave.
WestJet disputed the claim in a statement:
“Due to noncompliance of the parents to place a mask on their older child who is over the age of two, our crew informed the adults of the regulations we are required to follow.
“Our crew requested the presence of the authorities after the guests refused to comply with Transport Canada’s interim order and subsequently refused to deplane the aircraft.”
WestJet did not confirm the incident to Global News. However, the company said Flight 652 from Calgary to Toronto was canceled after guests “chose not to comply with the Transport Canada order related to the wearing of masks on-board the aircraft for all guests 2 and older.”