An 81-year-old Bronx lady is caught in Puerto Rico after an airline forbade her from boarding her flight residence along with her emotional assist parrot, in keeping with a report.
Maria Fraterrigo is within the midst of a journey nightmare — stranded along with her African Grey Parrot named Plucky on the Caribbean island after Frontier Airways was unwilling to ship the feathered traveler again to the States, ABC7 reported.
“I received no extra tears. My thoughts is clean. Simply wish to go residence. That’s all; I don’t ask for a lot,” Fraterrigo advised the outlet.
The ten-ounce chicken was not a problem for the grandmother on her Jan. 4 flight from JFK Worldwide Airport to Puerto Rico. She efficiently boarded the Frontier flight with Plucky in a TSA-approved provider, in keeping with the station.
However, Fraterrigo was turned away at her gate on April 5 after she already handed by means of safety at Luis Manoz Marin Worldwide Airport in San Jose.
A employee reportedly advised her to “get rid” of her beloved chicken — which she had accredited as a service animal — to board the aircraft.
“You gained’t be capable to make the flight. Do away with your chicken and provides it to any individual,” her son Robert Fraterrigo advised ABC7, recounting the directions his mom was given by an airport worker.
Robert mentioned he contacted Frontier Airways and spoke to a consultant in an internet chat, however they offered no assist — solely providing a refund of about $190 for the ticket, in keeping with the station.
“My mom did nothing mistaken and she or he simply must be taken care of and despatched residence,” the annoyed son mentioned. “She didn’t need the rest however to go residence and nobody desires to assist.”
The stranded octogenarian grew to become more and more connected to her feathered pal, which she described as an emotional assist animal, after the loss of life of her husband Richard, a retired NYPD court docket officer who died of a 9/11-related most cancers.
The couple often traveled to Puerto Rico with Plucky in tow earlier than Richard’s loss of life.
“He saved me going, speaking to me, making me snicker once I was down,” the elder Fraterrigo advised the outlet in regards to the African Grey Parrot, which has a median lifespan of fifty years and is able to studying to speak.
Fraterrigo couldn’t be reached for remark.
Frontier Airways, in the meantime, mentioned it’s attempting to deliver her again to New York.
“We’re presently investigating the matter and are in touch along with her household to help her in returning residence,” a spokesperson for the airline mentioned.
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