This story is so bad on so many levels, but the bottom line is that the American Airlines flight attendant in question should be supremely pitied for her deplorable behavior. She has no business being in a customer-facing role.
Shameful Flight Attendant Goes On Power Trip Against Miami Passengers
The incident took place on American Airlines flight 3573 from Key West to Miami, a 7:00am departure. According to an Executive Platinum AAdvantage member who shared about her flight on Facebook, it all began over a mother traveling alone with her two-year-old baby.
The lady was trying to lug her carry-on bag, the car seat, and the baby onto the plane. The baby was crying and did not have his mask on. At the door, the flight attendant aggressively scolded the mother. Instead of offering to help her carry something or show a bit of patience, the flight attendant barked at her:
Flight Attendant: “Ma’am you need to step off the plane!”
Mother: “Im trying, Im trying.”
Flight Attendant: “If she [baby] can’t wear a mask then she shouldn’t travel with you!”
[so helpful…]
Another passenger then got up to offer assistance to the lady, carrying her car seat to her assigned row. The flight attendant added fuel to the fire, loudly telling her colleague:
Flight Attendant: “She better have that mask on. If I go back there an its not on, I’m tossing her off this plane!”
The toddler quieted down when given a bottle (and did not have to wear a mask), but began crying again and refused to keep her mask on when the bottle was taken away.
While the flight attendant demanded she be thrown off, a gate agent and pilot attempted to de-escalate the situation (talking to the flight attendant, not the mother). But the flight attendant insisted upon her way and the mother and child were thrown off the (50-minute) flight.
Oh, but the story gets much worse.
Everyone was forced off the flight (and there is no indication that the mother refused to exit…