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United Airlines has banned a Hawaii couple after flying the airline despite testing positive for COVID-19, with the company saying it was investigating the incident.
The couple are currently facing second degree endangerment charges after taking a flight from San Francisco to Kauai over the weekend. They had tested positive for the virus during pre-trip screenings.
“We have banned these customers while we investigate this matter,” United Airlines said in a statement to The Hill.
“The health and safety of our employees and customers is our top priority,” the company said. “That’s why we’ve put in place various policies and procedures as part of a tiered approach to create a safer travel environment, including requiring everyone on board to wear a mask.”
The couple were ordered to self-isolate after testing positive for the virus at the airport, according to a police report obtained by USA TODAY. However, they defied the order and boarded the flight.
They were accompanied by a 4-year-old child, according to a media outlet.
After landing in Kauai, officers identified the couple and “escorted them to a designated isolation room for further treatment and investigation.” Kauai Police Department spokesperson said the exit.
Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami confirmed the individuals had been arrested and faced charges, according to a local ABC affiliate.
NBC News reported that the couple posted a bond, which was set at $ 1,000. The couple could face a $ 2,000 fine and up to a year in prison if found guilty.
According to United Airlines guidelines, customers who test positive for COVID-19 cannot fly for at least 10 days after receiving their diagnosis. And even then, the company says customers must have “two successive negative COVID-19 results administered at least 24 hours apart.”
There have been 18,186 cases of COVID-19 identified in Hawaii since the start of the pandemic, according to the state Department of Health. The state has reported 246 deaths.
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