A couple traveling from Punta Gorda, Florida, to Indianapolis were removed from their flight before takeoff after airline staff claimed their crying baby appeared “sick.” Sydney and Kyle Tash had just boarded the Allegiant Air plane on March 27 when their infant daughter, Ellie, who had been calm through security and at the gate, began crying shortly after they took their seats.
An airline worker asked to see their boarding passes and questioned them about their baby, including her name and birthdate. A flight attendant then decided the child was unfit to fly, saying her red face from crying suggested she might be ill. Sydney later shared on TikTok that staff referred to her daughter as an “unidentified infant” and claimed medical professionals would not clear her to travel—despite no one examining the baby or even checking her temperature. The family was told to leave the plane or risk being removed by police.
They were rebooked on a flight the next morning, though Sydney said they received no compensation and their luggage remained on the original flight. Allegiant Air later stated that the crew followed standard procedure by consulting a medical service provider, which advised against travel based on observed symptoms. The incident has since gone viral, sparking debate online, with some supporting the airline’s caution and others criticizing how the situation was handled.