On Saturday, a known anti-mask activist posted a video of himself on an Air Transat flight sporting a mask-less face and clearly visible stubble. The airline says that he presented a medical certificate that made him eligible for an exemption. However, his video, along with footage of him wearing a mask in other situations, has put the certificate’s authenticity into question.
The sport of in-flight anti-masking
We have heard of many crafty and sneaky ways airline passengers have tried to get around the requirement of face masks on board flights. Some have boasted about making a tube of Pringles last for an entire five-hour journey to keep on eating. Others throw tantrums and refuse to mask up before departure.
The latter is understandable when you are a two-year-old, not so much when you are a grown individual who ends up taking to physical violence, like the passenger who struck a flight attendant on a Delta Air Lines flight in October.
However, this is the first we have heard of someone allegedly falsifying a medical certificate or obtaining one under false pretenses to get out of wearing a mask. On December 12th, Twitter user Chris Saccoccia, a known Toronto anti-mask activist, uploaded a video of himself on an Air Transat flight, clearly mask-less to “prove to the world it can be done.”
To prove to the world it can be done…and who better to show you? pic.twitter.com/T658G9amRN
— Chris Sky (@chrissaccoccia1) December 12, 2020
Charged with breaking quarantine
Chris Saccoccia, more known by his handle Chris Sky, and his wife Jessica Saccoccia were the first people in Canada to be charged in October for failing to isolate following a trip overseas. After returning from Ireland, the couple broke quarantine to attend an anti-mask rally at the Yonge-Dundas Square in Toronto.
@transat the public health is more important than one airfare
— Marva Layne (@MarvaLayne1) December 16, 2020
Air Transat’s response
Air Transat has faced backlash for allowing a known anti-mask activist to board their flight without a mask. The airline says that Mr Saccoccia presented a valid medical certificate and thus fulfilled its exemption requirements from the rule on facial coverings. A spokesperson for the airline told Simple Flying that,
“We can confirm that this passenger presented a valid medical certificate signed by a medical professional, indicating that his medical condition did not allow him to wear a mask at all times during the flight. In accordance with the federal COVID-19 emergency orders in effect, he did meet the requirements allowing him not to wear a mask.
However, we strongly deplore any actions or initiatives encouraged on social media that may put the public and travellers at risk.”
Reasons for exemption unknown
So what exactly is Mr Saccoccia’s medical condition? He has not been forthcoming with that information. It is, of course, every individual’s prerogative whether they choose to share personal medical information or not.
However, there is footage of Mr Saccoccia clearly wearing a face mask while receiving a tattoo on his neck from earlier this year. This was shared by another Twitter user further down in the thread with the initial in-flight video.
Funny how some people can develop conditions overnight @airtransat Is this the same idiot that was charged with violating quarantine? pic.twitter.com/EPescOVYfU
— Second Wave Families of Vaughan (@Stefen01375117) December 13, 2020
Whatever it is Mr Saccoccia suffers from which makes it impossible for him to breathe through a mask for a couple of hours, it must have had quite the sudden onset. That is no small tattoo, and its application most likely lasted longer than last week’s flight.
We are not really quite sure what to call this stunt. Do you have any ideas? Let us know in the comments.