American Airlines passenger who refused to wear a mask screamed for 10 minutes during her arrest, reports said

An American Airlines passenger was arrested Friday after refusing to wear a mask or get out of a plane at a New Orleans airport, reports the New Orleans Advocate (Nola).

American Airlines Flight 1768 was preparing to leave Louis Armstrong International Airport for Dallas but was delayed for up to an hour due to the mask incident, the report said.

American Airlines spokesman Derek Walls told the outlet the plane had to return to the boarding gate after the passenger refused multiple requests to wear a mask.

But after being pulled out, the passenger could be heard screaming for about 10 minutes as officials carried her through the passage until the plane taxied again.

“I’ve never seen anything like it before,” Patrick Maney, who was also on the plane, told NOLA.

He added: “Two heavily armed policemen came and told the lady to come down. She refused, and then they told her to get up. She was screaming and resisting as they pulled her and put some kind of strain on her. on her hands behind her back. “

American Airlines did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment.

The passenger was arrested around 10 a.m. CST, Captain Jason Rivarde, a spokesperson for the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, told Nola.

According to the outlet, officials said the passenger was ticketed for four offenses: disturbing public order, staying in a place after being banned, resisting arrest and simple assault.

It follows a string of incidents related to masks on planes at a time when violence is skyrocketing.

Most recently, a California family had to quit a Southwest Airlines flight after their toddler was unable to keep his face mask on, Insider reported.

The story continues

The family vow never to fly again after the company crew treated them like criminals because of their child without a mask.

In June, an American Airlines flight had to be canceled on Monday after a group of high school students refused to wear masks. As a result of the incident, the flight had to be delayed overnight and passengers had to stay in hotels at the airport.

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