Alaska Airlines kicks 75-yer-old passenger wearing respirator helmet off flight

A woman says she was left feeling “emotionally violated” after Alaska Airlines allegedly kicked her off a flight for wearing a respirator helmet. Judy Ferguson, a 75-year-old with terminal pulmonary fibrosis, was due to fly from Fairbanks International Airport in Alaska to Seattle on 10 October for a meeting with her doctor. Although she wore an N95 mask and a visor while boarding, she then changed into a respirator helmet on board as she believed it was safer. This did not align with the airline’s mask policy. “The agent told me to take off my respirator helmet,” she said. “I told him I’m 75, I have lung fibrosis, which is terminal. I’m going to critical appointments in Seattle, at University of Washington Medical Center. And I will not remove my ventilator helmet.” Ferguson claimed that she tried to explain that her helmet would be safer than the surgical or cloth face coverings accepted by the carrier on the four-and-a-half-hour flight, but the crew member alerted his supervisor. She said she was told to get off the plane six times, before Alaska crew removed her bags and escorted her from the aircraft. Ferguson alleges she was met by a police officer who manhandled her to the airline ticket desk. “I was emotionally violated,” she said. “I had tremendous stress. A bruise on my arm. It was beyond belief!” Alaska staff offered to rebook her on another flight leaving two hours later if she calmed down, but Ferguson said she turned them down and left the airport.<br/>