Southwest removes autistic boy and his family over face mask

Southwest removed a passenger and her 3-year-old son from a Monday flight after the boy, who has autism, refused to wear a face mask and became upset. Passenger Alyssa Sadler, who was also travelling with her 1-year-old daughter, said that the family was deplaned from the Southwest flight from Midland, Texas, to Houston, Texas. "It was just not a good morning," said Sadler. "He was screaming. He was throwing a fit. He was screaming no, no, no." Sadler told KPRC her son has a sensory processing disorder and doesn't like his face being touched and that she had a medical note explaining the condition. Sadler added the family previously had been able to fly from Houston to Midland without an issue. They were visiting Sadler's husband, who is working in Midland. The Monday flight had left the gate in Midland, but the plane turned around when it became clear the child was not going to wear a mask during the journey. Southwest has a strict mask policy that requires all passengers 2 and older to wear a mask or face covering for the duration of the flight.<br/>