Little Rock autistic 4-year-old kicked off plane for not wearing mask

On a return flight home to Little Rock, the Kimball family was removed from a plane after their 4-year old son, who is non-verbal with autism, wasn't wearing a mask.

[Elizabeth-ivgn]

If your child is prone to screaming and having meltdowns, don't get on a airplane. Sure, flight is sometimes necessary, but most of the time its not.

[lazycat]

This hurts. I have a little niece who is autistic and that is only part of her disability. She is none verbal as well. It is in my opinion that it is a danger for kids like this to deal with the current mask. If it is so important to continue wearing a mask make better mask. Kids like this WILL PULL ON THEM and in other cases, the mask may even become a CHOCKING HAZARD. These kids can't help it and neither can the parents. I been around a child like this on a regular basis and know what I talking about.

[leanneparker]

Boy- *makes noises, starts crying and hitting*
Service dog- *misses a medical alert and causes the handler to put them at risk*
This what would happen if a service dog was near the boy and his dad

[sugar-free-centz]

If a child with autism can't wear a mask in mask-required spaces, then their parents need to be responsible and do the decent thing: keep the kid home.

[lord.d_]

Crew woman:
**during safety rules demonstration**
Not wearing a mask is a crime against federal law and you will be resulted being removed from the aircraft!

Boy:
**doesn’t wear a mask and coughs for 8 hours straight**

First Officer:
MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY! LEFT RUDDER IS JAMMED! WE’RE LOSING ALTITUDE!!!

Captain:
I’m about to end this boy’s whole flight...

[nigalreinbachs]

This is totally hart breaking! This discrimination is totally disgusting and inexcusable!🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[bluescorpion]

I have a high functioning autism and can't wear the mask because of sensory processing disorder. It's like torture. The anxiety goes up and up till you just tear it off because you can't take it anymore. I feel bad not wearing a mask because occasionally people look at me and say stuff. It's not a choice for some people, there are exemptions for that reason. Some people on the autism spectrum can wear it, some can't, same with anyone. People can be so harsh about what they don't understand. He's 4 for goodness sake. They should be sacked over this. Blatant discrimination.

[DONTWANTCHANNE]

ADA DOES NOT APPLY TO FLIGHTS. The law is ACAA....and for a while it was not considered reasonable to allow a person without a mask. accommodations are only required when 'reasonable' at the time, it was not reasonable. I have complicated medical issues that can't be accommodated on a commercial flight. guess what--i don't fly. One of my issues is I can't wear a mask for a long time. Breathing the hot air can cause me to pass out due to issues regulating body temp...guess what, I would go into stores, get what I needed, and leave...if i had a problem in the store, I would just remove it for a minute away from people, put it back on, check out and leave

[elphaba]

those home videos are all you need to see. was he acting that way before being asked to leave? maybe that's why..not the mask 🤷‍♀️

[johndavis]

I think spirit airlines should be giving there money back Not issuing a refund if I was in my train into the FAA and if they’re still not gonna refuse it in and file a lawsuit

[ljre]

These are the people that vaccinated folks should protect!

[CadetGriffin]

Refusing to wear a mask is a bad choice, but depriving customers of umpteen hundred dollars and dropping them off somewhere hundreds of miles from home is way too harsh a punishment.

[raincity]

Rules are rules in fact I’m autistic and I felt really scared on the bus today when people weren’t wearing masks

[DONTWANTCHANNE]

accommodations are only required when 'reasonable' at the time, it was not reasonable. I have complicated medical issues that can't be accommodated on a commercial flight. guess what--i don't fly.

[TheGabby]

As a father of autistic children, I would seek counsel

[Arzeena]

Imagine sitting next to that.... bet all other passangers at the gate were thrilled when they got booted.

[Little-Dewott-]

That's why I hate Spirit Airlines!!!

[notoriouseagle]

I would sue the hell out of Spirit and I would LOVE to hear a statement from those clowns.

[WackyManJackpotPizza]

I have autism not that bad but if this happens to me I will literally say if you don't like it then don't get near me. If see or he doesn't then I hopefully won't go angry mode because I have a strong voice. Plus I have trouble breathing in it.

[lmd]

Everyone has to wear a mask that’s over two