American Airlines has announced that it will no longer serve alcohol on flights to and from Washington D.C. after flight attendants ‘were forced to confront passengers exhibiting politically motivated aggression towards other passengers and crew.’
The move is one of several new ‘precautionary’ measures taken by the airline and comes as thousands of fanatical Trump supporters descended on the Capitol, with several haggling Senator Mitt Romney on his flight to DC.
‘We are working closely with local law enforcement and airport authority partners to ensure the safety of our customers and team members on the ground and in the air,’ the airline’s statement said, CNN reports.
No specific incident was highlighted by the American Airlines as having been the reason for the move.
As American Airlines made its announcement, a top Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) official called for pro-Trump supporters to be denied access to commercial airline flights.
The move is one of several new ‘precautionary’ measures taken by the airline and comes after videos showed various flights where Trump supporters heckled Senator Mitt Romney on his flight to DC
Alcohol will no longer be served on American Airline flights to and from D.C.
AFA International President Sara Nelson issued a statement on Wednesday calling the ‘mob mentality’ that occurred on several flights to D.C. ‘unacceptable,’ adding that they ‘threatened the safety and security of every single person onboard.’
‘It will not happen again,’ Nelson declared. AFA represents some 50,000 flight attendants across 20 airlines, and Nelson asserted that those who act in such an egregious manner would be possibly barred from flying.
(AFA) International President Sara Nelson issued a statement calling the ‘mob mentality’ that occurred on several flights to D.C. ‘unacceptable’
She continued: ‘Some of the people who traveled in our planes yesterday participated in the insurrection at the Capitol today. Their violent and seditious actions at the Capitol today create further concern about their departure from the DC area.
‘Acts against our democracy, our government, and the freedom we claim as Americans must disqualify these individuals from the freedom of flight.’
The AFA president also issued a message to union members explaining that they were aware of multiple incidents on flights that were headed to DC.
‘As safety professionals, we are well trained in handling inflight disruptions, but we should never find ourselves having to deal with politically motivated verbal or physical altercations onboard,’ the message said.
Flight attendants were advised to ‘maintain situational awareness, and attempt to deal with all safety and security issues on the ground.’
During a flight on Tuesday to D.C., Romney was heckled by Trump supporters. ‘Let him know what we think,’ a woman screams before a group of Trump supporters with their masks pulled down chant ‘traitor’ and ‘traitor Mitt’ from their seats. Romney is believed to be sitting further ahead in the plane, but he cannot be seen as the Trump fans record the incident.
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The message continued: ‘Remain extra vigilant on flights departing from the Washington, D.C. area for the next few days, and involve your fellow crew members if you have safety concerns.’
Romney cannot be seen in the video of his particular incident, which went viral on Tuesday night. The video shared claims that it was taken on the plane as Romney flew to DC on Tuesday evening.
Romney cannot be seen in the video of his particular incident, which went viral on Tuesday night. He was seen getting heckled in an airport, however
‘Let him know what we think,’ a woman screams before a group of Trump supporters with their masks pulled down chant ‘traitor’ and ‘traitor Mitt’ from their seats.
Romney is believed to be sitting further ahead in the plane, but he cannot be seen as the Trump fans record the incident.
It is not known if the same woman who approached him in the airport was on the flight.
‘Resign Mitt. We want to know your connection to Burisma and Joe Biden, Mitt Romney,’ one woman shouts.
The senator was defended by another woman who shouted: ‘We love you Mitt Romney you’re great, you’re doing awesome. I’m one of your constituents and I think you’re doing wonderful.’
‘You’re one of maybe a million who think opposite of you,’ a Trump fan tells her.
One woman later tweeted about the incident alleging: ‘Flew into DC with coward @MittRomney hiding with two masks, glasses and a bubble helmet. Don’t worry- we let him know what we thought about him #TRAITOR.’
Another video shared on Wednesday showed more Trump supporters traveling on a plane from Texas to Washington, DC. Images from the plane shows a ‘Trump 2020’ projection in the cockpit
In response to the heckling, Romney told reporters Wednesday: ‘That’s something I’ve gotten used to over the years. That’s the nature of politics today.
Another video shared on Wednesday showed more Trump supporters traveling on a plane from Texas to Washington, DC.
In the new footage, flight attendants struggle to control the plane full of pro-Trump passengers. At one point in the video, someone on the plane displays a ‘Trump 2020’ projection before the lights in the cockpit are turned on.
Meanwhile, people are heard yelling at each other, with one saying: ‘Shut the hell up!’
Others are heard claiming that someone on the flight ‘threatened’ them but it’s unclear what happened.
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