A Virginia Beach mother is speaking out after a mask incident she said involved her 2-year-old on a recent Southwest Airlines flight.
Ali Cleek was on an Aug. 12 flight from Orlando to Norfolk, Virginia, with her husband and two children, 4 and 2. Her 2-year-old daughter, Drew, was crying and would not keep on her mask, Cleek told FOX News.
“Drew is a thumb sucker and her only way she biologically knows how to soothe herself is by sucking her thumb which is damn near impossible with a mask,” Cleek posted to Instagram after the incident.
Cleek and her husband held Drew down, she said, trying to get her to wear her mask while two flight attendants stood over them, watching.
What happened next, Cleek wrote on Instagram after the incident, had her “still shaking.”
Cleek said she was given two options. Cut a hole in the mask, she said she was told sarcastically, or “glue it to her face.” The flight attendant, Cleek said, indicated she had glue available.
The mom of two said she is a “rule follower” and doesn’t want to come across as anti-mask.
“I just know that regardless if it was sarcasm or not I was embarrassed and trying to follow the mandate as much as I could,” Cleek said. “My daughter is 2. We were doing everything we could to comply.”
In her post, she wrote “I don’t like being this person. Wearing a mask is the federal mandate… I get it. I respect it. But at some point we have to have human decency. Compassion.”
In a statement emailed to FOX News, Southwest Airlines said, “The federal mask mandate for travelers has been in effect since February 2, 2021 and requires all passengers over the age of two to wear a mask at all times throughout the travel journey. We [Southwest] appreciate the ongoing cooperation among our customers as we work, collectively, to follow the federal mandate and support the comfort and wellbeing of all who travel with us during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.”
The statement continued, “As a note, customers are reminded of the federal mask mandate multiple times prior to travel. Southwest provides reminders during the booking process on our website; in pre-trip emails sent to customers prior to departure; and as a part of a customer’s Health Declaration Form that must be acknowledged during the check-in process on the Southwest app, Southwest.com, Southwest’s mobile website, and airport kiosks.”
Cleek said she reached out to the airline and received a call from customer service with an apology. “They said they would essentially talk to the flight crew,” she said.
Beyond the apology, Cleek said she hopes there’s been communication around the company about what to do in similar situations.
“I know I never want another parent to be in tears on an airplane because their 2-year-old won’t wear a mask. I really don’t want parents to feel like they have to hold down their child to put on a mask. I also don’t want to feel like I can’t travel with my kids by plane,” she added.
https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/mom-says-flight-attendant-told-her-to-glue-mask-to-toddlers-face
The mom of two said she is a “rule follower” ..welp there’s your first mistake , and why I feel no pity for you
if all were going to do here is fckin follow rules , than you might as well put the gun you your own head and pull the GDamed trigger yourself
“We were doing everything we could to comply.”..like good little sheep
yer already fukin’ dead and dont know it yet
And the flight attendants wonder why people are hitting them or throwing luggage at them.
It’s like them saying, “I don’t know why you don’t hit yourself over your head. Let’s fine you $1000”
Unfrigginbelievable……
Everybody’s problem here is following the federal mandate. They can’t mandate crapola!!!
stop flying airlines
So much wrong with this! Starting with the mom- you “held your child down” for a stupid mask mandate?! You’re the same jerk that will line up for the shot once it’s available to babies! Flight attendant- absolutely no heart for a toddler! Then, what was so flippin important that you had to subject your small children to this tyranny?! And what was your husband doing? Sucking his thumb while idly standing by?! And of course, let’s post a pic of traumatized child while trying to follow the rules! Grrr
how bout we glue the flight attendant to the outside of the plane ?
how about we skip the glue and see how long she hangs on LOL
Hahaha Now that paints a picture,
LOL!
I’m down, but let us use cheap glue from China that will fail half way through the flight. 🙂
Well now, does this surprise anyone ? If it does then a wake up call is needed.