Southwest Airlines passengers dance and cheer as couple accused of refusing to wear masks get thrown off flight

Passengers on a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 flight line up to exit the aircraft after arriving at Houston's Hobby airport March 20, 2021.

Charlie Riedel/ AP

• A TikTok video shows a woman arguing with a flight attendant about not complying with a mask-wearing mandate.
• Passengers on the Southwest Airlines flight can be heard heckling and jeering at the passenger.
• As the woman and her partner are escorted off the flight, those on the plane cheer and dance.
• See more stories on Insider's business page.

A TikTok video shows an entire plane clapping and cheering after a couple is escorted off a Southwest Airlines flight, Newsweek reported.

In the video shared by user Brendan Edler, a woman is seen arguing with a crew member.

@b_edler56

##karen

♬ original sound - Brendan Edler

The footage, which is filmed discreetly from three rows back, starts mid-argument.

The dispute revolves around a passenger who refused to comply with COVID-19 safety protocols by not wearing a mask.

Read more: Inside Southwest Airlines' legendary culture - and how to get hired there

It should be noted that the woman is wearing a mask at the start of the clip.

The reaction of those on the plane, however, suggests this was not the case earlier on.

The woman, whose identity is unknown, is insistent that she did not break the rules. "I did comply," says the woman to the flight attendant. "You're saying I didn't comply and put my mask on when you ask asked me to?"

Shortly after, the woman accuses the flight attendant of not telling the truth. "You're a liar and you have to live with that," she is heard saying.

Those on the flight then begin to heckle the woman and start saying their farewells.

"Bye," shouts one person.

"Get off the plane," yells another.

"That's what happens when you don't say you're sorry," someone else can be heard saying.

The woman then stands up, shows her middle finger to those on the plane, and walks off with her traveling companion.

The remaining passengers appear jubilant, with one woman proceeding to dance.

Insider contacted Southwest for further context on the incident. The airline said that it does not have any further details on the situation but provided information on its mask-wearing policy.

"Federal law requires Southwest to ensure every person age two and over to wear a mask at all times throughout a flight, including during boarding and deplaning," a Southwest Airlines spokesperson said. "We communicate the face-covering mandate to all Customers at multiple touchpoints throughout the travel journey."

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