Southwest Airlines removes boy living with autism and his family from flight over mask

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Southwest Airlines removed a passenger and her 3-year-old son from a Monday flight after the boy, who has autism, refused to wear a face mask and became upset.

Passenger Alyssa Sadler, who was also traveling with her 1-year-old daughter, told KPRC that the family was deplaned from the Southwest flight from Midland, Texas, to Houston, Texas.

"It was just not a good morning," said Sadler. "He was screaming. He was throwing a fit. He was screaming no, no, no."

Sadler told KPRC her son has a sensory processing disorder and doesn't like his face being touched and that she had a medical note explaining the condition.

Sadler added the family previously had been able to fly from Houston to Midland without an issue. They were visiting Sadler's husband, who is working in Midland.

The Monday flight had left the gate in Midland, but the plane turned around when it became clear the child was not going to wear a mask during the journey.

Southwest Airlines has a strict mask policy that requires all passengers 2 and older to wear a mask or face covering for the duration of the flight.

A face mask policy was originally introduced in early May and from July 27, the airline introduced mandatory face coverings with "no exemptions," apart from for children younger than 2.

The airline said if a customer cannot wear a face mask "for any reason," Southwest "will be unable to transport the individual."

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