Korona - Bruk av ansiktsmaske skaper stadig trouble i USA - Også for senatorer - Curt Lewis

 Punches thrown over passenger who won't wear mask on airplane

An argument over face masks turned physical on an Allegiant Airlines flight from Mesa, Ariz., to Provo, Utah, on Saturday.

A passenger on the flight was wearing a face shield and a flight attendant asked him to wear a face mask as well, KSL TV reported. Allegiant’s policy is that face shields must be worn in addition to a face covering, not as an alternative.

When the flight attendant and passenger were arguing about the policy, another passenger heckled the man, KSL reported. As the flight attendant was attempting to escort the passenger who refused to wear a face mask off the plane, a fight broke out with the heckling passenger.

Another passenger, Rylie Lansford, recorded the fight and said one of them threw a punch.

Lansford told KSL that she saw one of the passengers swing at the other and the passenger who refused to wear a mask was choking the other. The fight was broken up after 30 seconds, KSL reported.

KSL also reported the passenger who refused to wear a mask was escorted off the plane in Mesa, Ariz., and the other passenger was able to stay for the flight.

Major U.S. airlines have required face masks on planes for months. In September, a woman and her 2-year-old son were removed from a Southwest Airlines flight because the son didn’t have on a mask.

US senator took off mask repeatedly on flight. He chairs committee that oversees airline safety and policy.

Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker (R), who chairs the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, was spotted with his mask dangling underneath his chin while aboard a Delta flight last week.

·     A Democratic media consultant tweeted an image of the senator not wearing his mask properly.

·     Wicker’s communication director Rick VanMeter said the senator lowered his face mask to eat a snack and forgot to put it back up.

·     Delta says a flight attendant asked Wicker twice to adjust his mask and he did.

The chairman of the Senate committee that oversees airlines and transportation policy was seen aboard a Delta Airlines flight last week with his mask dangling underneath his chin for extended periods, according to The Washington Post. 

A photo showing Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker (R), who chairs the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, aboard a Thursday flight from Atlanta to Jackson, Miss. with his mask off was posted to Twitter by Democratic media consultant Matt Harringer. 

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“I’ve seen enough Republican senators test positive to tweet this photo,” Harringer wrote. “@SenatorWicker — because you refused to wear a mask on our @Delta flight last night, please let your fellow passengers know your status once you’ve been tested.” 

The Post reports Harringer shared three time-stamped images — one at 8:37 p.m. while the plane was on the ground, one at 9:27 and one at 9:46 — showing the Republican lawmaker with his mask under his mouth or chin. 

Wicker’s communication director Rick VanMeter said the senator lowered his face mask to eat a snack and forgot to put it back up. 

“When he was reminded by a flight attendant, he put the mask back up. He did not attend any recent events at the White House and has not been in contact with any of the individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 in recent days,” VanMeter said, according to WTVA. 

The incident happened just before it was revealed President Trump and other administration and campaign officials tested positive for COVID-19. 

Delta, which has banned more than 400 people for refusing to wear masks aboard flights, told the Post that a flight attendant recalled two instances during the flight in which the senator was not wearing his mask properly and was asked to adjust it, which he did. 

“In this case, all customers followed all crew member instructions regarding our mask requirements,” a Delta spokeswoman told the paper. 

The Post noted that the Trump administration the following day rejected a union petition calling for a federal mandate that masks be worn by all passengers on planes, trains and buses.