American Airlines London-bound flight turns back to Miami after passenger refuses to wear mask

American Airways mentioned a flight to London returned to Miami as a result of a passenger refused to adjust to the federal masks requirement, the newest flight disruption over a report of an unruly passenger.

American Airways Flight 38, a Boeing 777 with 129 passengers and 14 crew members overseas, turned again for Miami late Wednesday about an hour into the journey, in accordance with flight-tracking website FlightAware.

The return was “as a result of a disruptive buyer refusing to adjust to the federal masks requirement,” American mentioned in a press release. “The flight landed safely at MIA the place native regulation enforcement met the plane. We thank our crew for his or her professionalism and apologize to our prospects for the inconvenience.”

The traveler has been banned from flying the airline pending an investigation, the provider mentioned. The Miami-Dade Police Division did not instantly reply to a request for remark.

Studies of unruly conduct on planes surged to a report 5,981 final 12 months, greater than 71% tied to disputes over a federal masks mandate that went into impact early final 12 months, although airways had required them for the reason that coronavirus pandemic started.

Some incidents included bodily assault in opposition to crews. In October, an American Airways flight attendant was hospitalized after a passenger allegedly struck her within the face, forcing the cross-country flight to divert.