American Airlines says they’re “reviewing the details” after Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz was photographed onboard one of their commercial flights without a face mask.
The picture was snapped and uploaded to social media Sunday by Hosseh Enad, who works for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. In the picture, which quickly racked up tens of thousands of "likes," Cruz is seen sitting down and browsing on his phone sans mask, which is required by the airline on their flights as part of their current COVID-19 policy.
Captured today at 10:45am — @TedCruz on a commercial flight, refusing to wear a mask. pic.twitter.com/h8DM7J4CMi
— Hosseh (@hossehenad) July 13, 2020
Cruz responded to the photo by claiming that he did wear a mask throughout the airport and during other parts of his travel, but had removed the covering to drink coffee.
Enad responded to that claim, saying, “For those trying to argue that he was drinking, it’s not hard to have a mask on and undo one side to take a sip then put it back on. Most people take their time drinking coffee.”
Now, American Airlines says they’re “reviewing” the matter after the photo went viral. “We are committed to protecting the health and safety of all customers, and we are reviewing the details of this matter,” the airline tweeted in response to one user’s complaint.
We are committed to protecting the health and safety of all customers, and we are reviewing the details of this matter.
— americanair (@AmericanAir) July 13, 2020
Other photos quickly circulated showing the Texas lawmaker wearing a mask while on a flight.
SPOTTED: Ted Cruz wearing a mask on a plane when he isn't drinking coffee https://t.co/ma6GVbqIBo pic.twitter.com/7bI8tSGeL8
— Comfortably Smug (@ComfortablySmug) July 13, 2020