A Florida man wearing red women’s underwear as a face mask was kicked off an airplane prior to takeoff – followed by other passengers who also got off in support.
The incident occurred Wednesday morning on United Airlines. Staff confronted Adam Jenne who was wearing underwear that covered his mouth and nose as he waited for his flight to Washington from Fort Lauderdale.
“You have to leave the aircraft. A flight attendant said, “We won’t let you travel,” in a recorded cell phone video by a passenger.
‘Why?’ Jenne replied in the Fox4 video.
“You are not complying with mask requirements,” said an attendant.
Jenne, 38 years old, from Cape Coral, Florida told the outlet that his underwear conformed to TSA guidelines. This federal law is in effect until May. However, he disagrees with the requirement that passengers wear masks when flying.
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United Airlines employees confront Adam Jenne (pictured in underwear over his mouth and nose) on board a flight between Fort Lauderale, Florida, and Washington DC.
Pictured: Jenne gets up from his seat on United Airlines after he was kicked out of his flight because he didn’t comply with the face mask rule. He had underwear on Wednesday.
Jenne claimed that underwear was compliant with TSA guidelines. A federal law up to May, Jenne does not agree with the rule that requires passengers to wear masks when they board planes.
His explanation was that the mask was worn as a facial mask until the plane reaches its cruising altitude. Then passengers will be allowed to take off their masks and eat or drink.
‘There’s nothing more absurd than having to wear a mask until I get to cruising altitude so that I can order Tito’s by the double and snack on pretzels, and illustrating that absurdity by wearing women’s underwear on my face sounds perfect,’ said Jenne.
The video captures Jenne being kicked out moments after he was taken off. It also shows other passengers exiting in support.
In the video, one man stated that he had been kicked out for wearing a face mask.
“I’m gone, get out!” The man said, “I’m outta here.”
Pictured: A few other passengers get out of the plane to show support for Jenne moments after Jenne was removed.
Jenne thanked fellow passengers who left the plane to protest.
Jenne stated to Fox, “Thank you, they, because they saw an injustice, something which didn’t make any sense, and stood up,”
United Airlines was steadfast in its determination that Jenne’s underwear and mask weren’t compliant.
“The customer wasn’t complying with the federal mask mandate. We appreciate that our team resolved the issue prior to takeoff and avoided any possible disruptions in air,” it stated in a statement.
Jenne claimed that United Airlines sent him an email shortly following the incident. It stated that the United Airlines Passenger Incident Review Committee had now reviewed his case.
Meanwhile, Jenne said he made the right decision to protest the industry’s mask rules.
“Your rights do not end at my feet. Jenne said, “You don’t have to tell me what I do.”
Jenne stated that United Airlines sent him an email, as shown in the photo, telling him that he has been banned from flying. His case will be reviewed by Passenger Incident Review Committee.
United states that masks must completely cover the nose and mouth. Jenne stated his underwear mask adhered to those guidelines.
He did however reveal that this wasn’t his first time being kicked from a flight for not following airline mask regulations. According to him, he was also asked to get off a Delta Airlines flight for using his underwear as a mask.
On Wednesday, the CEOs of two of America’s biggest airlines said they do not think masks should be required on planes any longer – even as new cases of the Omicron variant spread across the nation.
Senator Roger Wicker asked American Airlines CEO Doug Parker, and Southwest CEO Gary Kelly, their opinions on federal flying’s “mask mandate” at a Senate hearing on financial support for airlines in 2020 and 2021.
Kelly claimed that masks are not necessary to improve the environment in an air-conditioned cabin. It is safer and more durable than any indoor environment.
Parker and he both pointed out how airlines increased airflow aboard their aircrafts following the pandemic. Parker noted that HEPA filters, which capture most of the airborne contaminants in planes, were often used to exchange cabin air with outside fresh air.
CNN reports that Parker agreed. A plane is the best place for you to be.
“It is true for all our aircrafts, they all have HEPA filters. They all have the same airflow.