A Houston woman has said that Spirit Airlines Inc. (SAVE) kicked her family off a flight Friday morning as she did not immediately stop breastfeeding her 2-year-old son.
Mei Rui, a concert pianist and cancer researcher, said she was asked by flight attendants to stop breastfeeding her son and put him into his own seat for takeoff.
Rui said she asked for a few more minutes to finish so that she could put her son to sleep on the flight that was repeatedly delayed by weather.
Rui, her 2-year-old son and elderly parents had boarded the scheduled 6.30 am flight from Houston to Newark. Rui was on her way to New York City to take part in a recording for a clinical study dealing with cancer.
Rui noted that while breastfeeding her son, the plane was still at the gate in Houston and other passengers were walking around the cabin.
After being instructed by the flight attendants to put her son into his seat, Rui said she promised to finish nursing her son as soon as the plane's door closed and then buckle him in.
However, when Rui stopped breastfeeding and put the child into his seat, he began crying. Rui was then ordered off the plane.
When Rui asked why she was being told to leave the plane if her child was in his seat, she was told that it was because she was not compliant. Rui used her cellphone to record video of the incident.
Spirit Airlines later said that the passenger was removed from the flight for "refusing to comply with crew instructions several times during taxi to runway and safety briefing."
The airline added that it has issued a full refund to Rui. However, Rui said she will not be flying Spirit again.
For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
Business News