#Man arrested for refusing to wear mask on Delta flight

A man was arrested after refusing to wear a face mask on a Delta Air Lines flight that was heading from Salt Lake City to San Francisco, authorities said.

Joshua Colby Council, 44, was rushing to board his Delta fight at Salt Lake City International Airport around 10:40 p.m. Wednesday when a gate agent stopped and asked him to put on a face mask, according to a police report obtained by the Salt Lake Tribune.

Council refused and continued to board the plane, police said.

Once on board, the captain and flight crew also asked Council to wear a mask, but he became hostile and continued to refuse, police said.

He also refused to leave his seat when airport security tried to escort him off the plane.

Only when all the other passengers got up and walked out did he finally leave the plane, police said.

The incident delayed the flight for 45 minutes.

Council was booked into Salt Lake County jail on a disorderly conduct charge. He was released Thursday morning.

“We apologize to customers for the delay on Flight 1382 on Wednesday as a passenger was removed from the flight for mask non-compliance,” the airlines said in a statement to KSL-TV.

“There is nothing more important than the safety of our people and customers.”