To Mask or Not Mask, Save a life or Your Own Life

What Happens When Passengers Not Wearing a Mask Throw Tantrums

Nowadays since Covid flying has become more of a chore than a luxury or necessity. Many living in the middle of the road of fear and others are trotting around fearless or ignorant, not sure which. Wearing a mask and social distancing has become the norm in halting the damage done by the Pandemic that took over 500,000 lives in this Country and millions worldwide.

In the midst of much division, mis-information and down right lies, the public is torn not knowing whom to believe, science or politicians. In the past, this was unheard of happening, where each entity had its place in the community.

Adults have dumbed down over the years where thinking and reasoning has become a lost art form, aka commonsense is no longer common. Being led appears to be the order of the day. Following anyone blindly will inevitably become a disaster and the followers pay dearly mentally, physically and socially.

Under the the Federal Aviation Administration’s recent zero-tolerance order, unruly airline passengers face criminal prosecution or fines of up to $35,000. This is a lot of money. Wouldn’t it be easier just to wear a $1.00 mass and save time for self and other fliers? How selfish can one be?

Now that the fitness gyms are reopening, there are mask wearers and others who refused as they huff, puff and breathe polluting the air with their spit droplets. Thus ensued an argument between the mask and no mask person as all got pretty ugly. Will this be the new norm, fighting over mask? There are masks protestors around the Country claiming violation of their freedom, their rights. Many have rebelled against the mask, as some of those many are lying in their graves.

In groceries stores fights have broke out about mask. Never thought a simple mask could cause so much upheaval between supposedly functioning adults. Pride, respect and common courtesy has taken a seat so far in the back of lives today it is practically non-existing.

The airlines have had its share of fights and now that the pandemic due to 50% of the population being vaccinated, more people are starting to travel and being cautious while others are flaunting their freedom not to mask up.

JetBlue found its day in the media due to one passenger on a flight from the Dominican Republic to New York had a tantrum when asked to put on a mask, throwing food, an empty liquor bottle, screamed obscenities and got physical with the flight attendant. What is wrong with this picture here?

Next Southwest Airlines on its way to Sacramento from Chicago, a passenger refused to wear a mask, and when escorted off the plane was disrespectful toward the flight attendants and hit a crew member with his luggage. All were just doing there jobs. The flight crew don’t make the rules but enforce the rules and should not be subjected to total disrespect and cruelty.

Alaska Airlines had its share of a belligerent filer on a flight to Seattle from Bozeman, Montana where this passenger refused to put on a mask amid several request that cause the plane to return to the gate.

American Airlines had to remove three passengers on a flight from Fort Lauderdale to Chicago before takeoff after they refused to wear masks. After the plane returned to the gate, fight ensured in the terminal. On another occasion, another America Airline’s passenger assaulted a crew member refusing to wear a mask on a flight from Miami to New York. When the plane landed, law enforcement met the plane and this passenger was placed on a no-fly list.

For over one year, the CDC and other medical experts have screamed from the hills and back about wearing your masks to save love ones and friends’ lives. Now, there is a federal law in place mandating mask wearing on commercial flights and failure to do so would be punishable with a $250 fine for the first offense and up to $1500 for repeat offenses. Prior to the federal law, many maskless fliers were escorted off the plan and banned from flying, according to the airlines mask-wearing polices. This policy was for the good of the passengers and the airline’s staff. Is this so difficult to understand? Life is finite and could end in seconds.

These non complying fliers have been physically and verbally abusive toward airline staffs who are trying to protect all flyers and themselves. Yes, a zero-tolerance mandate was required to arrest such dangerous and selfish behavior. Also, the FAA Administrator along with issuing the zero-tolerance, added that violators will face criminal prosecution or fines up to $35,000, starting March 30, 2021 and civil penalties ranging from $9,000 to $32,750 for fliers who refused to wear a mask and presents a problem for other fliers and the airline staff.

These unruly passengers are facing civil penalties of $14,5000 to $31,750. These penalties are much needed as there is a rise in ill behavior on airplanes therefore hitting each in their pockets will curtail this behavior and thwart other fliers from doing the same.

Delta Air Lines is currently leading charge among U.S. carrier putting the names of ill-behaved fliers on their no-fly list, thus far about 1,200 fliers have refused to wear mask or have become belligerent on planes. This needs to be stopped otherwise it will get out of hand. Imagine, passengers refusing to wear a mask causing havoc in air. Also, Frontier Airlines has now put 830 on the no-fly list, followed by United Airlines with 750, Alaska Airlines with 542, Delta had 270, and United had 150, approximate to date.

On an average, the FAA has enforced fines on some 180 cases of unruly passengers a year and for 2021 that number has reached 1,300 with 260 for potential enforcement. According to the TSA, there is a huge uptick in fliers above a million a day and climbing. With more being vaccinated, these numbers undoubtedly will increase.

In conclusion, life is simple but humans make it complicated. Wearing a mask is cheaper than being deplaned, fined or placed on a no-fly list. Adults need to relearn how to be an adult and behave like an adult. The K.I.S.S. method always works, keep it simple sweetheart.

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