NEW YORK (VINnews) — A Jewish family travelling from Orlando to Newark airport had their trip interrupted on Wednesday when they were kicked off their JetBlue flight. The reason for their removal was their 2-year-old child not wearing a mask. The parents and 5 siblings of the child were all wearing their masks properly.
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The family was approached by a flight attendant who asked them about their child not wearing a mask. The mother explained to her that her 2-year-old simply would not wear one. But, she explained, this should not pose any issue whatsoever, as the JetBlue website clearly states that their mandatory mask policy does not apply to “small children who are unable to maintain a face covering.”
Rather than follow the company policy, the flight attendant requested they leave the plane. When the family refused, the captain demanded that the entire flight to deplane.
It should be noted that the vast majority of the passengers were on the side of the family, and immediately protested to the flight attendants. The protests continued as the passengers made their way back into the terminal. In video footage from the scene, one can hear passengers call upon each other to call JetBlue and complain.
The family plans to file an immediate lawsuit against JetBlue.
Shame on you JetBlue for harassing me and kicking me off with my 6 children because my 2 year old wouldn’t cooperate and…
Posted by Chaya Bruck on Wednesday, August 19, 2020
Listen, I disagree with the policy in the first place, but the website DOES require everyone two and up to wear a mask.
https://www.jetblue.com/safety
Please post a link here where can all voice our displeasure with they’re service and handling of this situation
[email protected]
You can send him a email with the injustice that was done to this family and especially this child
a little brains goes a long way- the kid is 2 years old just fly the plane.
everyone should call jet blue to log a complaint. 1800jetblue
This article is misleading. It shows JetBlue policy effective May 4. JetBlue updated their policy on August 10 (as was widely covered in the press). The new policy is much stricter and eliminates ALL exemptions for wearing a mask, except in the case of a child under 2. I will bet you this child is older than 2. The JetBlue guidelines clearly state that if you cannot comply with the mask requirement FOR ANY REASON you should delay flying until after the pandemic is over. The also say that if you refuse to comply with the flight crew’s order to put on a mask you will be banned from the flight and from future JetBlue flights. They make it very clear that they will not tolerate any monkey business when it comes to this policy. I am certain that this mother had the opportunity to just comply for the sake of all the people waiting to fly home, but she decided to stand her ground which brought the matter to ahead.
Shame on them. Follow your own rules, don’t just changed at your discretion.
Attendent did not want to lose face. Shame on her/him
JetBlue’s mask policy since early this month is that everyone must wear a mask, no exemptions allowed except for children younger than two years of age.
From JetBlue’s web site:
“All travelers 2 years and older must wear a face covering over their nose and mouth throughout their journey, including during check-in, boarding, while in flight and deplaning. Masks with vents or exhalation valves are not permitted. Plastic face shields may be worn in addition to a face covering but not in place of one. Customers with conditions that prevent them from wearing a face covering should postpone travel until this temporary requirement is no longer in place.”
Good luck with that lawsuit. Rules like this apply to everyone, even Jewish families.
This crew is fully ignorant of their airline’s policy.
They are also ignorant of the science of who can spread Covid-19. There is no known
case of a child under 10 passing on the virus.
I believe that this family will win a law suit if brought by a decent attorney.
Jet Blue must immediately communicate their policies regarding children travelling on their airline.
I’m waiting on hold to complain.
And, I’ll God-willing write a complaint.
Ever since 9/11, the expanded police powers which have been given to flight attendants and even pilots, have gone to their heads. Today, if a passenger is not subservient enough to these characters, or dares to disagree with them, they will order them thrown off a flight, and even call the cops, and lie about what occurred.
I fail to understand you guys . She tried and the kid refused and threw it off . What is one to do once on the plane ?
And give me a break . Sure there are rules but brains come first . A 2 yr old ?
It’s a stupid policy to begin with. How do u convince a 2 year-old child to wear a mask?
That is not true, but nice try.
They actually changed their policy (which is time stamped as proof) , a full 44 minutes after the above mentioned innocent.
A pretty transparent attempt at saving face.
The policy itself is indefensible and clearly was written by someone without kids.
Medically there have been almost zero proven cases of a two year transmitting covid 19 worldwide, so in any case the risk of anyone catching it from a toddler is almost nonexistent.
In my opinion the CDC and the Justice department should get involved and knock some common sense into these idiotic policies.
From another site he timing shows that the problem stems from the change in policy from when they bought the ticket to when they used the ticket. This was a return flight. When they bought the ticket, the policy did NOT require the child to use a mask (the child did not wear a mask in the original flight). By the time they went on the return flight (something like a week later) the policy had changed.
Why do people fly JetBlue anymore? There’s always some issue with them. Too many crazy stories that seem to happen specifically with JetBlue. (Seems that there are quite a few affecting the frum community). Do not fly JetBlue!!! They certainly are not family friendly.
The policy on the Jetblue website was not changed until yesterday, August 19. You can see it for yourself. You can also check the Wayback Machine – they have a snapshot from yesterday showing the old policy.
I checked the jet blue web site after the story broke and it stated, a child that cannot wear a mask isn’t required, a few hours later jet blue changed the policy!
I recently flew Jetblue. On my flight there were several small children who were not masked. They were left alone. No issues. For the airline to at random enforce and insist on their policies and yet at other times look the other way, is wrong. It speaks to a bais at play.
This family needs a history lesson in antisemitism. We are in golus. Giving in and just complying will not make us all pushovers. Doesnt matter that most people on the flight agreed. Dont amplify this in the media and dont make lawsuits. It will not end well for anyone, (especially the perception of orthodox jews).
I’d like to tell the Vin readers about my experience with Jet Blue. At one time, it serviced Columbus, Ohio, and at that time it offered seating of no more than two people in a row, which was great, as the seats were very roomy. I think that it was in 2007, that the first and only time that I took Jet Blue was from Columbus to JFK. In any event, as we were approaching JFK, the idiotic pilot got too close to the wake turbulence of another jet that was in front of us, which either just landed at JFK. Even student pilots are taught to stay away and maintain at least 45-60 seconds from a flight in front of your aircraft, because of the turbulence from the jet exhaust. This pilot was in a hurry, and got caught in the turbulence. We weren’t more than 600 feet above the ground, when all of a sudden, the aircraft made a sharp steep dive to the right with the wings. It actually felt like we were going to crash. The pilot came out of the cabin after we landed, and made some nickel and dime excuse for what occurred. Needless to say, that was the last tine that I ever flew with Jet Blue.
You may be right in criticizing JB however they still remain the cheapest flight into Fort Lauderdale unless you opt for those other airlines that require you to bring your own seat!
Therefore, I do not plan on leaving JB which I use every December when flying down to Florida.
jet blue gives people the BLUES !!!
jet blue really BLEW it this time .
https://web.archive.org/web/20200804065459if_/https://www.jetblue.com/safety
Screenshot capture from 4aug2020 for jetblue facecover… they did change it, the lady was absolutely in her right and from the reaction of the other passengers it would seem she was not rude etc.
I had a similar incident.
Traveled to LA with my family. My two year old son wasn’t wearing a mask. They called the cops and escorted us off the plane. I showed the cops videos of Non Jewish kids on the same flight that weren’t wearing masks. The cops had no choice but to let us go.
In total they escorted 9 Jews off the plane (all Jews , although we weren’t even sitting together, they basically identified us by our yarmulkes), and all this because two little Jewish kids weren’t wearing masks.
I have video and audio recordings of the entire incident.
We tried doing a lawsuit but we were not successful finding a lawyer to take on the case.
JetBlu filed a criminal complaint with the FAA against all 9 Jewish passengers. They also barred us from Flying.
What a horrible experience!
Beware JetBlue does discriminate against Jews!
I think the cabin crew was wrong. Before the Covid I traveled a lot and on multiple airlines including JetBlue. They were no better or worse than United, Lufthansa, BA or Southwest. You want to complain about an airline fly Aeroflot.
We don’t know when this incident took place, so we cannot determine what the official posted rule was at the time of the incident.
jet blue should openly and publicly apologize to this family and let them fly for FREE anywhere they want for REST of their lives .