Flight canceled after ’30 teens celebrating graduation wouldn’t wear masks’

American Airlines (right) Flight 893 passenger Stephanie Krzywanski (middle) filmed herself calling a local news station as a young man waved behind her while the flight was delayed (Pictures: WLTX/Getty Images)

A flight was unable depart the whole day after about 30 high school seniors reportedly refused to wear face masks as required. American Airlines Flight 893 from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Nassau, Bahamas, was set to take off on Monday morning but experienced repeated delays until it was pushed to the next day.

An American Airlines spokesperson said some passengers were ‘non-compliant’ with the federal mask mandate on planes, would not follow crew members’ instructions and were disruptive to others on board.

‘Per procedure, the customers involved were asked to exit the aircraft,’ an American Airlines press release stated. ‘We expect our customers to comply with our policies when they choose to fly with us, and we take action when that is not the case.’

The airline eventually provided all passengers with meal vouchers as well as hotel rooms for Monday as the flight was rescheduled to Tuesday.

A passenger, Stephanie Krzywanski, filmed herself calling a local new station. She wore a mask as a young man waved behind her with his mask pulled under his chin.

Krzywanski said she believes the trouble-making passengers were a group of high school students celebrating their graduation in the Bahamas.

‘There were a group of high school seniors celebrating their graduation who were being rowdy and not wearing their masks,’ Krzywanski told WLTX. ‘What transpired was a lot of back and forth between, I assume, the parents.’

Malik Banks, who sat next to the group of teens, told WSOC that ’75 to 80% of them were being terrible kids’.

All of the passengers, including the high schoolers, were booked on the rescheduled flight.

‘After having a conversation with the group, our team at CLT confirmed with the customers that if they can travel on another flight, they will agree to comply with the face covering policy,’ an American Airlines read. ‘The customers ultimately agreed and will travel to Nassau tomorrow.’

The flight finally departed Charlotte at 10am – more than 24 hours after its initially scheduled departure.

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