Elderly man (76) unable to leave island due to persistent presence of parrot
Maria Fraterrigo, a 76-year-old woman from New York, finds herself in a precarious situation on the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico. She was recently refused boarding on a flight from Puerto Rico by Frontier Airlines due to her emotional support parrot, Plucky.
The incident, which occurred on Saturday, has received attention from U.S. media, including CBS, and has been the subject of discussion among politicians. Maria's son, Robert Fraterrigo, who booked the flight for her, is at a loss due to the situation on the island.
Maria had planned to return to her homeland after a stay on the island of Puerto Rico. However, her return journey has been thwarted due to Frontier Airlines' decision that Plucky, her gray parrot, was not allowed to travel on her return flight.
The situation is at an impasse: Maria wants to go home, but the airline strictly refuses to take the parrot on board again. The incident has been particularly challenging for Maria, as she relies on Plucky for emotional support and has her medication and an upcoming doctor's appointment in New York.
The cage containing Plucky was initially approved by Frontier Airlines for the outward flight. However, on the return flight in San Juan, Frontier Airlines employees declared that a mistake had been made on the outward flight, and the bird should not have been taken along. According to eyewitnesses, the airline employees' statement was direct: "No, no, that was their mistake, not ours. If you want to fly, you have to leave the bird here."
The incident received attention on Twitter with the link: https://t.co/wHojIdj3zt. Maria and Plucky are currently stranded on the island, with no immediate solution in sight. The incident has also led to a wider discussion about the rights of individuals with emotional support animals and the responsibilities of airlines in accommodating them.
Despite the challenges, the incident has also received attention and support from those who are advocating for Maria's safe return to New York with her emotional support parrot, Plucky. The situation remains unresolved, but the hope is that a solution will be found soon, allowing Maria to reunite with her beloved pet and return home.
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