- Maria Fraterrigo, 76, is caught in Puerto Rico after she was not allowed on a Frontier Airways flight again to New York Metropolis together with her emotional assist parrot Plucky
- She stated that Frontier Airways did permit her to journey to Puerto Rico together with her pet, however the flight employees stated it was an error
- Her son Robert Fraterrigo is searching for a brand new solution to get her safely to him in Florida
An 76-year-old New York Metropolis lady says she is caught in Puerto Rico after an error was made when transporting her emotional assist parrot onboard a flight.
Maria Fraterrigo hopped on a Frontier Airways flight at John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport together with her pet fowl Plucky in a TSA-approved provider with out incident. Nevertheless, her journey hit a snag when she tried to get on her return flight with the animal on April 5, in keeping with WABC-TV, WCBS-TV and CBS Information.
The girl claimed, per WCBS-TV, that she was instructed by the Frontier Airways flight employees in Puerto Rico: “‘No, no, no, that was a mistake at JFK. If you wish to get on the flight, eliminate the fowl.’ ” She added, “Think about that!”
“I’ve been traumatized. It’s like I’m deserted,” Maria continued, per the outlet. “My medication is residence, physician’s appointment. Every part is only a nightmare.”
Kevin Carter/Getty
Frontier Airways didn’t instantly reply to PEOPLE’s request for remark.
The airline issued a press release to WCBS-TV saying that it was investigating the matter and looking out into methods to resolve the difficulty.
Maria’s son, Robert Fraterrigo, stated he has been making an attempt to work with the airline to discover a resolution because the fowl was essential to his mom. He famous that the animal “gave her a lot consolation” after his father’s dying, because the pair had usually traveled with Plucky.
By no means miss a narrative — join PEOPLE’s free day by day e-newsletter to remain up-to-date on the most effective of what PEOPLE has to supply, from superstar information to driving human curiosity tales.
Nevertheless, the airline instructed him {that a} mistake was made by the employees at JFK and that giant birds like parrots weren’t allowed onboard. He stated that his mother had a letter from the vet saying that Plucky was “an emotional assist animal,” and the flight employees accepted the letter and “there was by no means a query as to what sort of fowl my mom was bringing.”
Based on Frontier Airways’ web site, solely “small family birds” are allowed onboard and solely on home flights. The airline additionally famous that “massive birds,” together with “parrots, macaws, cockatoos, birds of prey” are “by no means accepted” onboard.
Courtesy of Robert Fraterrigo
Maria was refunded about $190 for the ticket and issued a $250 voucher. Nevertheless, Robert instructed WABC-TV and WCBS-TV that his mom was nonetheless caught in Puerto Rico with no manner residence.
“That is an island. This isn’t the place my mother can soar in a automotive, or I can soar in a automotive and go get her,” he instructed WCBS-TV.
He instructed WABC-TV that he has reached out to smaller airways to see if his mother might get on a personal constitution to get her to Tampa, Fla. the place he at the moment lives, however hasn’t had any luck to this point. He instructed the outlet: “My mom did nothing improper and he or she simply must be taken care of and despatched residence, she did not need the rest however to go residence and nobody needs to assist.”
As for Maria, she instructed the retailers that she refused to depart Plucky behind, and all she wished was to return again to New York Metropolis together with her parrot. She instructed, WCBS-TV, “… I wish to go residence. That is all I need. I wish to go residence.”
“I simply wish to get residence. That is it. With my fowl,” she added.