Fury at What Stranger Does to Passenger Wearing Mask in Airport: 'Why?'

Newsweek

13-05-2025

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A post about a bizarre incident involving a masked passenger and a man who began "quacking" at them at an airport has sparked debate about public mask-wearing and its stigmatization in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era.
The post, titled simply "Quacking???" was shared on the r/delta subreddit by user u/CactusMoon2 and has since garnered 1,700 upvotes and hundreds of comments. It describes an encounter that occurred on April 26 at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Georgia.
"To the distinguished-looking, but definitely not acting like, mid 50's gentleman in the gray suit walking through Terminal E in ATL—you are an a******!" the poster wrote, launching into a recount of the interaction that unfolded while they waited to board a Delta Air Lines flight.
The poster, who did not share their name, age or location, told Newsweek: "I was walking toward my gate when the incident occurred. It was a quick exchange—he made eye contact, he began quacking, all while we were walking in opposite directions...he kept walking and so did I."
The poster said they were waiting to catch an international flight at the gate while wearing a KN95 mask, which "look like duck bills," noting: "I have an autoimmune disease affecting my lungs and need to mask up in closed spaces."
The poster said: "A****** makes intentional eye contact with us and starts quacking, loudly 'Quack! Quack, quack, quack! Quack! Quack, quack, quack!' Why would someone be such an a******????"
A stock image of a man wearing a face mask while standing at an international arrivals gate at an airport.
A stock image of a man wearing a face mask while standing at an international arrivals gate at an airport.
iStock / Getty Images Plus
Masks, once required for travel under the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) during the height of the pandemic, have remained a polarizing issue even after mandates were lifted in April 2022 following a federal court ruling.
Back in August 2021, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration reported it had received 3,889 reports of unruly passengers, including 2,867 reports of those refusing to comply with the mask mandate.
Although the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) no longer enforces mask use, the CDC still recommends masks for travelers who are ill.
'Stunned'
The Reddit poster said the "quacking" incident felt like a direct comment on their decision to wear a mask. "I wear a mask when I am in crowded, enclosed places—so definitely when I travel. I was stunned when the guy started quacking, loud enough for me to hear," the poster told Newsweek.
The passenger said: "He was walking with a small group of people...he did appear to lean down toward one, while he quacked, still looking at me. No one in the group looked at me—they just kept walking, looking straight ahead."
The poster added: "It felt like he was making a very negative comment about mask-wearing and making fun of me for wearing one. Frankly, I have never understood why some people feel the need to make comments, to ridicule or to question someone else's choice to wear a mask."
The episode ignited discussions about personal health choices and public reactions. "I do have to ask—how many times have you been in a crowded place where someone is coughing, sneezing, blowing their nose, and then a few days later you wind up sick?" the poster said. "My point is, I am at risk and I am just trying to minimize that risk."
They shared the incident in the Reddit post in a need to vent and the response from other users was unexpectedly supportive. "I was so surprised at the number of comments and most of them were very positive, offering comebacks for the next time or sharing their own stories of similar happenings," they said.
The poster said reactions to mask-wearing often vary by setting. "In a healthcare setting, the looks seem to be one of curiosity or empathy; while I get a lot of 'side eyes' and 'rolling of eyes' when wearing a mask in public," they said. "This is the first time I have heard a comment directed toward me, although I have had friends who have had similar experiences—apparently, these encounters are not as rare as one might hope."
The incident touched a nerve with many Reddit users, who flooded the thread with support and shared outrage.
U/CommonComb3793 wrote: "He made himself look unempathetic and uncompassionate AF [as f***]. That's on him."
Another user, u/FiverForever, commented: "Anyone around him was reflecting on what an immature jerk he was. No one thought he was clever or funny."
U/Horror_Ad5116 said: "Last I checked...free country. WEAR THAT MASK!!!"
U/TeriBarrons questioned: "Why should anyone care what someone else does with regard to wearing a mask? It's a stupid hill to die on."
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