A flight attendent wears a mask as they clean up a plane. Picture: Unsplash
Imagine being on a flight and learning mid-way that the flight you are on has to be grounded because of a medical emergency?
Well according to Ethan Judelson, 28, an American Airlines flight he was on had to be grounded due to a lice infestation.
Judelson took to social media platform, TikTok, to share how he learnt through word of mouth that the medical emergency in question, on his flight from Los Angeles to New York, was due to the parasites making their way on to the flight.
@ethanforyou Replying to @Ana kyriakos ♬ original sound - Ethan Judelson
He revealed that the flight was diverted to Phoenix, Arizona, where he spent 12 hours at the airport, stayed at an airport hotel and was given $12 to spend during the grounding.
@ethanforyou But they gave me 12 dollars to spend so now i get to eat hummus!
♬ Apple - Charli xcx
“I am indeed at the airport. In fact, I have been at the airport for 12 hours because my flight was grounded bc the lady next to me had such an awful case of lice that we had to land in Phoenix, Arizona,” said Judelson.
For some, the grounding of the flight due to the parasite is shocking and bizarre. Judelson’s tell-all video received more than 1.2 million views and TikTok users shared their views on the incident.
Commenting, @maethepirate, said: “That’s an insane reason to emergency land 😭😭.”
Another user, @michellewalsh07, said: “I work at a school and kids don’t even get sent home for lice anymore.”
@seretoninqueen said: “My ocd is screaming right now. i can barely travel without crippling fear of bed bugs ... new fear unlocked.”
While @babsbunny0305 said: “My crazy self would go do a lice shampoo just for in case 😣 my head itches just listening to this 😂😂.”