3-Year-Old Removed From Flight After Mask Tantrum

Texas family removed from a Southwest Airlines flight after 3-year-old boy with autism would not wear a face mask. KPRC's Michael Lopardi reports.

(KPRC/NBC News) — A Texas mother says her family was removed from a Southwest Airlines flight Monday morning because her 3-year-old son, who has autism, would not wear a face mask.

“It was just not a good morning,” Alyssa Sadler says.

Sadler says she was trying to get back home from Midland, Texas, with her son and 1-year-old daughter. The flight initially left the gate but a crewmember said the plane would have to return when the boy wouldn’t keep the mask on.

“He was screaming. He was throwing a fit. He was screaming no, no, no,” Sadler says.

She said her son has a sensory processing disorder and doesn’t like his face touched. Sadler also had a note from the boy’s doctor about his condition but she said that didn’t make a difference.

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