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WestJet cancelled a Tuesday redeye flight from Calgary to Toronto after a family refused to put a mask on their 19-month-old daughter.
Passenger Safwan Choudhry says WestJet airline staff were forcing his 19-month-old daughter to wear a mask even though Transport Canada says children under two years of age should not wear one.
In a series of tweets, Choudhry said the encounter was the “most horrific and dehumanizing treatment,” claiming that his three-year-old daughter was wearing a mask before the flight took off but that his 19-month-old was “hysterical” and he struggled to get a face mask on her.
Choudry says a flight crew member approached the family and asked them to put a mask on their child before threatening to call security.
Choudhry says the encounter prompted some passengers to “hurl racist and Islamophobic remarks” towards his family but said they are “incredibly grateful and humbled by the overwhelming support and love” from the majority of passengers.
In a statement to Daily Hive, WestJet says it apologizes for the interruption to the flight’s guests and travel plans that were affected by the cancellation of flight 652.
“In this instance, due to non-compliance of the parents to place a mask on their older child who is over the age of two, our crew informed the adults of the regulations we are required to follow,” says the airline. “Our crew requested the presence of the authorities after the guests refused to comply with Transport Canada’s interim order and subsequently refused to deplane the aircraft.”