The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has affected all of us in different ways, and it seems as though every week it throws up a new story steeped in the controversial.
A family from the US have made headlines after being ejected from their United Airlines flight because their two-year-old daughter wouldn’t wear a face mask.
As per reports, United has a strict policy applying to passengers of all ages that requires them to wear a mask to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
For Eliz Orban and her husband, however, this rule spelled trouble as they readied to depart on a flight from Denver to Newark.
Orban’s husband tried his best to get their two-year-old daughter to accept a face mask, but the little one was dead set against it. When she began to cry and refused to cooperate, the dad told a flight attendant he would cover her mouth during the flight. He was then informed that didn’t meet the COVID-19 requirements.
Sadly, the family were then kicked off of their flight before it had taken off. Orban recorded the ordeal and uploaded the video to social media, where it quickly went viral.
Speaking to Fox News, the mom said: “We are premier members with United, so we’ve flown many times. Even during the pandemic we’ve flown with our two-year-old.”
Orban explained: “We’ve just flown two months ago because all of our family lives on the East Coast, so this is the only way for them to see their granddaughter, and this time was just extremely different.
“We felt like we got no warning, no working with us, no asking questions, nothing to help in the situation. It was just like, ‘Oh, well your 2-year-old is not complying, you guys are off the plane.'”
Orban also said that United Airlines had banned her family for life, though the airline later told Fox that this isn’t correct.
“I just have to say the past year has just been a huge PTSD for us and very, very scary with everything going on,” Orban said.
What do you think? Did Eliz and her family really have to be thrown off of the plane because their two-year-old wouldn’t wear a mask? I understand the need for caution, but this sounds a little excessive.
Do let us know your thoughts in the comments box.
Meanwhile, share this article if you’re praying for a COVID-free world in 2021.
