Man reported wearing women’s underwear as COVID-19 mask on local flight

LATROBE, Pa. — Spirit Airlines is investigating after a man boarded a plane in Latrobe using women’s underwear as a ‘face mask.’

A Spirit spokesperson told Channel 11 all passengers and crew are required to wear masks and that extras are also available.

The spokesperson did not know if the man put the underwear on before or after boarding and sent this statement:

We are aware of that inappropriate face covering, and as a result we have taken action internally on this isolated event to ensure compliance with CDC guidance on face coverings. Spirit’s requirement for wearing face coverings went into effect on May 11, and we include reminders in our communications to Guests, which include emails, call centers, website, social media channels, in preflight announcements and more.

Agents screen Guests during the boarding process to ensure they have an appropriate mask or face covering consistent with CDC guidelines. Our Flight Attendants also respectfully inform Guests of the policy in line with existing guidelines for managing Guest conduct.

Taking care of our Guests and Team Members is and has always been our absolute priority. This face covering requirement is part of Spirit’s multi-layered safety initiative, which includes state-of-the-art, high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters that capture 99.97% of particles and filters the air for contaminants every 3 minutes. We also have enhanced cleaning procedures using hospital-grade disinfectants that focus on high-touch areas such as handles, seatbelt buckles, tray tables arm rests. Please visit our COVID-19 Information Center for more information on safety enhancements.

—  Erik Hofmeyer, manager of media relations

Channel 11 contacted the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport for a comment and have not yet heard back.

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