Michael Seklecki: Florida dad claims airline cos BANNED his autistic son, 4, over mask policy
An embattled Florida parent revealed on Monday, December 6, how his autistic son, 4, was banned from Frontier Airlines for life because he is unable to wear a mask and comply with federal Covid-19 policies.
Michael Seklecki Jr receives medical treatment in Boston but has been blocked from boarding flights twice for not wearing a mask. Now, his father Michael Seklecki is suing the Transportation Security Administration as well as Spirit and Frontier airlines over the same, arguing that his son is medically exempted from face mask requirements. He told Fox's Laura Ingraham how his son was not allowed to board despite providing doctor's notes to airline workers.
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During an appearance on 'The Ingraham Angle' on Monday, Seklecki said he's seeking the Supreme Court's intervention in the case. "He’s been banned for life on Frontier Airlines," he said of his son. "I was specifically banned as well… Incredible." The heartbroken father also recalled the "appalling and condescending" treatment from an airline worker when he provided the doctor's note. "It's totally just mind-blowing to be refused travel for medical care," Seklecki said. "This is sick. This is child abuse," Ingraham responded, saying companies were "running scared" in fear of legal consequences not complying with "tyrannical" federal Covid policies.
Seklecki Jr lives with his family in Florida and receives treatment at Boston Children’s Hospital about every two weeks for severe gastroenterology and motility disorders, Boston 25 News reported. His parents and doctors have said he cannot tolerate wearing a mask on flights. However, Seklecki Sr was told that the doctor's notes do not "override corporate policy at Frontier."
The family is now hoping the Supreme Court will hear the case by next week so the four-year-old can travel to Boston for his treatments. Chief Justice John Roberts can decide to rule on the case himself or seek the participation of fellow SCOTUS justices. That said, the federal transportation mask mandate has been in place since August 2020 and was recently extended to March 18, 2022.
“Most people, including those with disabilities, can tolerate and safely wear a mask and are required to wear one as per CDC’s order,” the order from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states. “However, certain people with disabilities who, because of their disability, cannot wear a mask, or cannot safely wear a mask, are exempted from CDC’s mask-wearing requirement.”
MEAWW previously reported how the federal government was going ahead with plans for a third vaccine shot despite a large number of Americans not getting their first or second jab. Initially, the FDA and the CDC rejected boosters for all, but many worried of a possible u-turn that would make booster jabs mandatory for all.
Speaking to Axios on November 16, Dr Anthony Fauci backed a mandate of booster jabs. "In my opinion, boosters are ultimately going to become a part of the standard regimen and not just a bonus," he said. The disease expert added, "I believe it's extremely important for people to get boosters, and I am hoping very soon we will see a situation where there won't be any confusion about who should and should not get boosters."