I just want to go home: a tourist is stuck abroad, because she is not allowed on a plane with a parrot (2 photos)

The same airline allowed the pensioner's pet on board when she flew from New York.





A 76-year-old New Yorker is stuck in Puerto Rico after Frontier Airlines refused to let her board her emotional support pet, a parrot named Plucky.

Maria Fraterrigo arrived at her vacation home in Puerto Rico. But when she tried to return to New York, airline employees told her, "If you want to get on the flight, get rid of the bird."

The parrot did not cause a problem when the woman traveled to Puerto Rico, however, as the same airline allowed the bird on the flight. Frontier Airlines later said it was a mistake at New York's JFK airport, which also should not have allowed Fraterrigo to take the bird on the plane.

The airline's website says that "small pet birds" are allowed on flights within the United States, but larger birds such as parrots or cockatoos are not accepted.



"We are currently investigating the matter and are in contact with the customer and her family to assist her in returning home once she is able to provide all required government documentation. "As a standard policy (as stated on our website), we do not normally transport parrots on our aircraft," Frontier Airlines told CNN.

Fraterrigo said she felt "abandoned." She left her medications at home. "I just want to go home with my bird," she said.

Fraterrigo was traveling to Puerto Rico for the first time since her husband's death. The couple had previously traveled to their vacation home with their parrot, Plucky. The bird still supports her and "makes her laugh" when she's down.