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Video: Physical Fight Breaks Out on Plane After Passenger Refuses to Wear Face Mask

A fight broke out onboard an Allegiant Air flight bound for Utah after a passenger refused to wear a face mask. Allegiant Airlines currently requires all passengers and staff to wear a mask. 

Rylie Lansford caught on video the argument between two men while waiting for the flight to depart Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport on Saturday. 

Lansford was sitting near the passengers when a man threw a punch. She says she quickly retreated and took out her camera to record the incident. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CF50VuHBd_u/?utm_source=ig_embed

“It was absolutely insane to me because it’s all about a mask,” Lansford said. “It didn’t need to get that way.”

The situation started when a man wearing a face shield got into an argument with a flight attendant over the other man not wearing one. 

The Allegiant Airlines spokesperson did not respond to questions about the incident. However, they did say on Monday that the airline requires all passengers to wear face-covering at all times during the boarding process and duration of the flight.

“Face shields may be worn in addition to a face covering, but not as an alternative,” according to company policy.

In the video, another man who wears his mask under his nose joins in the fight. He begins to throws punches at the man not using a mask while being held back by numerous flight staff. 

After about 30 seconds, flight crews stopped the fight. The passenger without a mask was removed from the plane. The other men involved in the altercation were allowed to remain in their designated seats, however. 

“If you’re buying a plane ticket, you must follow the rules or you gotta drive somewhere,” Lansford said

The CDC on Face Masks

According to a study by the Emerging Infectious Disease journal, an affiliate for the CDC, a passenger aboard a flight from London to Vietnam was responsible for infecting 15 passengers.

The CDC recommends wearing a mask whenever leaving your house, especially when traveling. They also recommend maintaining a six-foot distance between yourself and others. 

[H/T NBC News]