According to reports, the 50-year-old woman was arrested and taken into custody after she attacked an elderly man on a flight for not wearing a face mask. Authorities said the female passenger attacked the 80 year-old male passenger, who has not been identified, because he reportedly took off his mask to eat and drink while at his seat. This flight-related incident comes after Dr Anthony Fauci told US travelers over the weekend that removing masks on an airplane is ‘not something we should even be considering’ due to the recent surge in cases and the presence of the new Omicron variant.
The 50-year-old woman from California, Patricia Cornwall, was on a Thursday flight from Florida to Georgia when the altercation erupted. Authorities said the female passenger attacked the 80 year-old male passenger, who has not been identified, because he reportedly took off his mask to eat and drink while at his seat, according to reports.
The 50-year-old woman and the elderly man exchanged a back and forth of vulgar insults, before erupting into physical violence. Police officials said that at least one crew member and multiple other passengers were injured while trying to get the woman away from the man.
According to reports, the 50-year-old woman was seen hitting, scratching and spitting at the older male passenger as the pair exchanged expletives after she approached him for not wearing his mask, according to reports.
Cornwall was then escorted to the back of the plane by flight attendants and was later arrested by police.
In the video bellow, the 50-year-old woman is seen angrily confronting the man for not wearing his mask even though he had taken it off to eat – which is allowed by FAA policy on board planes amid the ongoing coronavirus.
“Put your f***ing mask on,” the 50-year-old woman reportedly tells the man as the pair continue to go back and forth with another. After continuously refusing to comply with her demands. “Sit down Karen! You put your mask down b**ch” the 80-year-old man responds as her mask is seen lowered below her chin, according to reports.
The 50-year-old woman is then seen smacking and scratching him in the face. Cornwall then proceeds to spit on the elderly man as the attendant and other flight crew members attempt to bring her to the back of the plane.
According to reports, the 50-year-old woman continues to ask the flight crew members to get the man to put his mask on as hers still remains under her chin. “I will put my mask up when you put your mask up!” Cornwall shouts angrily.
In terms of Delta’s mask policy, a mask must be worn at all times during the flight except when eating, drinking, or taking oral medication. Officials said that the mask must not remain below the nose and mouth for an extended period of time as it must be put on properly in between bites and sips.
Delta flight from Tampa to Atlanta got crazy‼️ pic.twitter.com/I9BZUKv3LB
— ATL Uncensored | Atlanta News (@ATLUncensored) December 25, 2021