Elderly man kicked off plane over mask

ALLEGIANT A319-111 N330NV (CN 2786)

A passenger has been booted from a US flight after "aggressively disrupting" a flight attendant who had lowered her mask to give the safety demonstration. The elderly man was thrown off the Allegiant Air flight after complaining he had to wear a mask when the flight attendant was not. But according to the airline, the flight attendant had only lowered her mask briefly to speak into the public address system on board. "The passenger was removed for repeatedly disrupting the pre-flight safety briefing which includes reiteration of our in-flight face-covering policy," Allegiant said in a statement. "The flight attendant giving the safety briefing lowered their mask for speaking into the PA so the briefing could be understood." Videos posted from aboard the plane show other passengers grumbling as the elderly man was forced to leave. "You're supposed to be wearing a f---ing mask to begin with," one man can be heard saying. The elderly man turned to the rest of the plane and said: "Why don't you all get off with me?" "Captain, can I have a word with you please before I get kicked off?" he said to the pilot.

"I just asked someone to put on their face mask. That's all I did." The airline's website states all passengers as well as employees are required to wear face coverings that cover the nose and mouth.
Those with medical conditions that prevent the wearing of a mask must have a note from a doctor proving such. Children younger than two are exempt from the mask requirement.
According to data released last month, Allegiant has only banned one passenger for refusing to wear a mask during the pandemic. Allegiant Air is a budget airline that primarily services mid-sized cities in the United States.
Allegiant Air is the ninth-largest airline in the US.