A passenger on an Allegiant Air flight refused to wear a mask because he thought his face shield was enough.
The Arizona Republic reported, an air hostess aboard Flight 607 from Mesa, Arizona, to Provo, Utah, on Saturday, asked the man to cover his nose and mouth by using a mask. Despite that, he defiantly declined the clear and simple request.
One of the passengers, Rylie Lansford, who was sitting a row ahead, said, the man was wearing a face shield so he didn’t think he needs to wear an additional mask.
Later, the passenger who was sitting near Lansford turned around to confront the older man for his refusal.
The fight started when the cabin crew started to lead the mask refuser off the plane, according to Lansford, who recorded a video on her phone and posted on social media, Instagram under @bakedbyrylie, and the video got more than 20,300 views in one day.
The mask denier was escorted off the plane by an off-duty officer. The other fighting man stayed on board but was asked to move on to another seat.
Mesa Police Detective Jason Flam told the outlet that Rio James Honaker (52 years old) from American Fork, Utah, the man became aggressive with a stewardess when asked several times to wear a mask.
According to the police, the other passenger told him to put a mask on so the plane can take off, then Honaker answered him, to mind his own business.
Honaker, who faces unruly behavior constituting a minor offense, elbowed the other passenger in the head, accused him of getting off the plane.
The airline’s policy demands that the masks have to be made of solid material, entirely cover the mouth and nose, fit tightly against the face, and be secured under the chin. The airline provides masks to all boarding passengers.
Face shields may be worn as an additional face covering, but not as an alternative.