Two "unruly" passengers attempting to board separate flights in Nashville Tuesday (August 17) were arrested after refusing to wear masks on board, WKRN reports.
Police responded to two separate incidents at Nashville International Airport (BNA) regarding passengers refusing to comply with mask requirements onboard flights. Around 5:30 a.m. Tuesday, airport police arrived at Gate C10 to find a man that was removed from an American Airlines plane. The flight was delayed after the man, identified as 33-year-old Artur Grigoryan, would not wear a facial covering while on board.
This wasn't the first call police received regarding Grigoryan. The night before he was arrested at BNA, officers responded to a call claiming he also refused to wear a mask onboard a Spirit Airlines flight while hurling "vulgar names" at the crew. According to the news outlet, he is no longer allowed to fly with the airline.
Grigoryan was also accused of stealing sandwiches and soda from a shop at the airport before his American Airlines flight, but the owner chose not to prosecute him for theft.
A second passenger later Tuesday morning was also escorted off a Southwest Airlines flight that was originally heading toward Washington, D.C. After refusing to wear a mask, the pilot turned the plane around. The man, identified as 24-year-old James Swafford, reportedly grew aggressive toward officers and caused a disturbance.
Both men were arrested, changed with disorderly conduct, and each booked on a $1,000 bond.