Elderly NYC Woman Told to Surrender Her Emotional Support Parrot

A New York City A woman is finally returning home after getting stuck in Puerto Rico because airline staff informed her that she wasn’t permitted to boarded the aircraft with her emotional support parrot.

On January 4, Maria Fraterrigo, aged 81, successfully departed from John F. Kennedy International Airport accompanied by her cherished pet, Plucky, who was with her throughout the journey.

Nevertheless, when she attempted to return on Saturday, a Frontier Airlines staff member informed her that she needed to leave her pet behind, as reported. WABC .

The grandma from the Bronx mentioned that she transported her bird, which weighs 10 ounces, through JFK's security using an authorized pet carrier and had all the necessary documentation for it.

However, once she cleared airport security in Puerto Rico and reached her boarding gate, they informed her that the staff from the New York office had erroneously permitted her to board the flight.

"No, no, no, that happened at JFK. If you wish to board the plane, remove the bird," Fraterrigo instructed. WCBS The airline informed her.

You can't catch that flight. Release your pet and find someone else to take care of it.

Fraterrigo has been the owner of the African Grey Parrot for almost two decades, and she grew closer to the bird in 2019 following the death of her spouse Richard, who was a court officer as well as an employee of the NYPD. cancer related to 9/11 .

Fraterrigio stated, 'He kept me motivated, engaging with me, and made me laugh whenever I felt down.'

Fraterrigo and her son, Robert, were eager to reunite the elderly woman with her emotional support animal and return them both to New York.

I've been traumatized. It feels as though I'm abandoned," Fraterrigo stated. "Home and doctors' appointments are my medicines; everything seems like a terrible dream.

I've shed no more tears; my mind is empty. All I wish for is to head back home. Nothing else, I don’t demand much.

Robert reached out to Frontier, and the airline acknowledged their error regarding her departure from New York, stating that the bird was "not processed properly."

The airline reimbursed the passenger for the ticket amounting to approximately $190 and provided a voucher worth $250. However, they also highlighted their policy against permitting big birds such as parrots inside the cabin area.

According to the airline website Only small household birds can be brought along on domestic U.S. flights.

The airline clearly stipulates that large birds like parrots are never permitted to travel in the cabin.

My mother didn't do anything wrong; she simply needs proper care and to return home," Robert Fraterrigo stated. "She only wished to go back home, yet nobody seems willing to assist.

'She has a letter from the vet saying it's an emotional support animal. There was never a question as to what type of bird my mother was bringing.'

On Wednesday, the Fraterrigos informed the local news outlet about an 81-year-old woman and her pet bird returning to New York, though they didn’t clarify the method of their return.

Frontier Airlines stated that they are examining the situation and aiming to assist Fraterrigo in returning home.

"We are presently looking into the situation and are liaising with both the customer and her family to help facilitate her return home once she provides all the required governmental paperwork," stated the company.

As per our routine procedure (which can be found on our website), we generally refrain from transporting parrots aboard our planes.