A family has returned home after they said they were mocked after being kicked off a plane Monday, when their young son began experiencing an allergic reaction, causing the flight to be delayed.
Christina Fabian-Roman said passengers began applauding as she, her son Giovanni and her husband George Alvarado were removed from the aircraft.
“The people toward the back of the plane clapped,” Fabian-Roman told Seattle’s KING 5 News.
The family was on their way home following a visit to Bellingham, Washington when Giovanni, who is allergic to dogs, began feeling itchy.
“He was scratching all over and he began to get hives,” said Fabian-Roman.
The boy’s parents informed a flight attendant of their son’s allergy, but were told, “There’s dogs on every flight.”
The family was moved to different seats, but were asked to deplane after airport medical services determined it was unsafe for the child to fly.
“We understood,” said Fabian-Roman. “We gathered our stuff. They helped us off the plane.”
That’s when they said the heckling began.
“People that do not have sadness, they don’t understand what it feels like to have sadness,” said seven-year-old Giovanni.
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Fabian-Roman took to social media to express her disappointment.
The experience was especially hurtful for the family, because Alvarado is dying of cancer.
Alvarado, a father of 12, eight of which he adopted, was making a bucket list trip with his wife and son to visit family in Washington State.
“To make memories,” said Giovanni. “I am sad that this has to be a memory with my dad.”
An emotional Alvarado said he felt powerless when other passengers began to applaud.
WATCH: Family heckled and kicked off a plane after son suffers an allergic reaction
“As a dad I was just hopeless right there. I just looked at the people clapping. I was just shaking my head, I was like man let’s get out of here,” he said.
Allegiant Air has apologized to the family, but it has brought little comfort.
“You don’t know how much time people have or why they are hurting,” Alvarado said.
“Just be nice. Just be kind.”
Family finally arrives home
After a couple extra days in Washington, the family finally landed in Mesa, Arizona on Wednesday.
Fabian-Roman posted this photo capturing their excitement of arriving home.
The incident has garnered widespread attention, including from other airlines looking to help Giovanni and his parents.
Southwest Airlines have offered the family a vacation to Disneyland.
Similar to their trip to Bellingham, Disneyland is also on Alvarado’s bucket list.
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