Flight to Bahamas Delayed Over Face Mask Dispute – WebMD

July 8, 2021 -- An American Airlines flight from North Carolina to the Bahamas was delayed overnight this week after several issues, including a group of teenage passengers who refused to wear masks.

Flight 893 was scheduled to leave Charlotte, NC, on Monday to travel to Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas. Instead, the flight left on Tuesday morning, according to NBC News

At first, the flight was delayed for a maintenance issue, the airline told USA Today. During the 2-hour delay on the tarmac, some of the students removed their face masks due to a lack of ventilation and quite unbearable conditions, said Breakaway Beach, a student travel company. The company was hosting a group of 47 high school graduates on a trip from Boston to Nassau.

The passengers then became disruptive to other customers and refused to follow crew member instructions while onboard, American Airlines told NBC News.

Per procedure, the customers involved were asked to exit the aircraft, the airline said in a statement. We expect our customers to comply with our policies when they choose to fly with us, and we take action when that is not the case.

There were other delays, including flight crew time limits and concerns with Tropical Storm Elsa, according to The Washington Post.

When a second plane arrived, the 172 passengers were directed to another gate at the airport, but the tour group wasnt allowed to reboard at that time, the newspaper reported. The captain made the decision after multiple tour group members refused to wear masks, played music with profane lyrics through a speaker, used foul language, and didnt stay in their seats on the plane while waiting on the tarmac.

Breakaway Beach said the entire group was labeled as unruly and disruptive due to the actions of a few of the graduates.

The act of one individual is not the responsibility of others, and the students that were abiding by the rules should not have had to endure this type of treatment, the company said. The group was treated in an improper and overly harsh manner, causing unnecessary stress and aggravation to the travelers and their parents from afar.

But a passenger who sat near the tour group told WSOC-TV 9 in Charlotte, NC, that a large majority of the graduates were being terrible kids by yelling, using foul language, and being obnoxious.

After numerous delays, American Airlines moved the flight to Tuesday morning because the plane would have arrived in the Bahamas after the immigration and customs office closed, USA Today reported.

Ultimately, American Airlines allowed the tour group to board Tuesdays flight after they all agreed to wear face masks and follow crew instructions.

WebMD Health News Brief

NBC News: Flight delayed overnight after passengers refuse to wear masks, American Airlines says.

USA Today: American Airlines flight delayed after teens refuse to wear face masks.

The Washington Post: A group of teens defied mask rules and delayed a flight. They were allowed to fly the next day.

WSOC-TV 9: Students tour group blames airline after mask snafu delays flight to Bahamas.

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Flight to Bahamas Delayed Over Face Mask Dispute - WebMD