US mother kicked off flight for breastfeeding toddler

  • 12/12/2017

A Houston pianist and cancer researcher is speaking out after she, her 2-year-old son, and her elderly parents were kicked off a Spirit Airlines flight on Friday morning, after she refused to stop breast feeding.

Mei Rui was on her way to New York to take part in a recording for a clinical study dealing with cancer.

She says before the cabin door was closed, she started breastfeeding her son. Flight attendants instructed her to stop and get the child into his seat.

Ms Rui claims she only asked for a few minutes to finish, so the child wouldn't wake up - but as he continued to cry, Ms Rui said the crew had made up its mind and wanted them off the flight.

Spirit Airlines has since released a statement explaining its view of the situation.

"Our records indicate a passenger was removed from Flight 712 after refusing to comply with crew instructions several times during taxi to runway and safety briefing," they told KHOU11.

"To protect the safety of our guests and crew, FAA regulations and airline policies require all passengers to stay seated and buckled during takeoff and landing.

"We apologise for any inconvenience to our guests. As a courtesy, we've issued a full refund to the passenger in question."

Ms Rui said she was refunded her money, but won't be flying Spirit again.

"I said as soon as plane doors close, 'I will put him in his seat'," she said.

"He was making loud noise but that's not criminal. It was humiliating to be chased off a plane we had never been through anything close to this.

"We're not lawbreakers or trouble-seekers - we're a mother, baby and elderly - why did they have to treat us this way?"

CBS News