Washington: An American Airlines jetliner travelling to London from Miami turned around in mid-flight Thursday because a passenger refused to wear a COVID-19 mask, the airline said.
"American Airlines flight 38 with service from Miami to London returned to MIA due to a disruptive customer refusing to comply with the federal mask requirement," the airline said.
Police were waiting when the Boeing 777 having 129 passengers and a crew of 14 on board, landed back in Miami, NDTV reported.
When the flight landed police escorted that passenger off the plane without incident, a police official told CNN.
American Airlines said that pending further probe this passenger has been named on a list of people barred from travelling with the airline.
The Federal Aviation Administration stated in January 2021 it would follow a zero tolerance policy toward people who reject federal rules mandating mask-wearing on country's domestic flights.
This came after flight attendants reported a high number of cases of verbal and physical abuse from travelers who refuse to wear a mask.
