(New York, NY) – An 81 year old woman is stuck in Puerto Rico after the plane turned away her emotional support animal. Maria Fraterrigo from the Bronx, is stuck in a travel nightmare after Frontier Airlines refused to let her fly with her certified support animal – an African Gray parrot named Plucky. She became close to the parrot after her husband passed away from 9/11 related cancer in 2019. Fraterrigo had no trouble taking the parrot to Puerto Rico, but on her return flight – attendants at the gate told her to get rid of the bird.
The bird was in a TSA-approved carrier when she was able to fly with the bird back in January for a trip visiting family. The airline admits that on her departing flight from New York, the bird was “not checked correctly”. Fraterrigo is now contacting other airlines – trying to find a way home. A spokesperson for Frontier says they are trying to work with the family to get her back to New York.
