Family sues TSA, airlines after son denied travel to Boston despite mask exemption, SCOTUS to review

BOSTON — A family says their 4-year-old son was not allowed to get on a plane even with a doctor’s approval for a mask exemption. The child was coming to Boston for special treatment at Boston Children’s Hospital. The U.S. Supreme Court is now getting involved.

4-year-old Michael Seklecki has Autism Spectrum Disorder and his family and doctor say the boy cannot wear a mask. That has become a problem for the Florida family when they fly up to Boston Children’s Hospital where Michael receives special treatment for severe gastroenterology disorders and motility disorders.

The treatments are supposed to be every two weeks.

On two recent occasions, including one recorded at Frontier Airlines, the Seklecki family attorney said the child was not allowed to board using the mask exemption.

“They told me he is to be treated like an adult, that he is to wear a mask despite his age or medical condition, that his physician does not override corporate policy at Frontier,” Seklecki said.

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Their legal challenge is now going to the U.S. Supreme Court. The lawsuit against TSA, Frontier Airlines, and Spirit Airlines, where they say it also happened. TSA told us they cannot comment on pending litigation.

The family just wants the high court to clarify the medical exemption process, so these scenes don’t play out for others.

“He was very condescending and rude and unwilling to board them at all,” Seklecki said.

The family has filed an emergency application for the U.S. Supreme Court to hear their case. In the application, they asked for the case to be heard by next week so their son can continue coming to Boston for his treatment.

Boston 25 reached out to both Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines multiple times, but at this time have not heard back. It’s unclear if they too cannot comment because of pending litigation.

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