First class hypocrite: American Airlines launches investigation into MASKLESS John Kerry who claims it was 'momentary' and dismisses concerns as 'malarkey'
John Kerry has defended himself after he was was spotted without a mask on a flight from Boston to Washington D.C., dismissing concerns over a maskless photo of him onboard the plane as 'malarkey'.
On Wednesday, Donald Trump Jr. tweeted an image that appeared to show Kerry sitting in the first class section of a plane with a mask hanging from one ear but not covering his nose or mouth.
Kerry responded on Twitter, saying he only uncovered his face for a short time.
'Feels like there's some St. Patrick's day 'malarkey' afoot on Twitter. Let's be clear: If I dropped my mask to one ear on a flight, it was momentary,' Kerry, 77, said.
'I wear my mask because it saves lives and stops the spread. It's what the science tells us to do.'
American Airlines has also said it is investigating after Kerry, the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, was spotted without a mask.
Masks are required on flights, according to a directive from the Transportation Security Administration - and those who are found in violation can face fines ranging from $250 for the first offense up to $1,500 for repeat offenders.
In his tweet, Donald Trump Jr. called Kerry out for 'flouting' President Joe Biden's federal mask mandate, labelling him a 'liberal hypocrite'.
'His mask is off & he isn't eating or drinking. Will he be fined for breaking the law & banned from flying @AmericanAir like regular citizens would be?'
Donald Trump Jr. tweeted that John Kerry is a 'hypocrite' after he was pictured not wearing a mask on a flight
![Kerry (left) said: 'If I dropped my mask to one ear on a flight, it was momentary. I wear my mask because it saves lives and stops the spread' [File photo]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/03/17/23/40609794-9374153-image-a-48_1616022672142.jpg)
Kerry (left) said: 'If I dropped my mask to one ear on a flight, it was momentary. I wear my mask because it saves lives and stops the spread' [File photo]
Kerry, 77, has since defended himself on Twitter calling the news 'St. Patrick's day 'malarkey''
The picture of Kerry on the flight was first posted by conservative outlet the Tennessee Star.
An anonymous passenger who shared the image with Fox News and the Tennessee Star told the outlets that they saw Kerry wearing his mask before boarding but he took it off shortly after getting on the flight before other passengers.
The passenger told Fox News that flight attendants were not seen instructing Kerry to put his mask back on - but admitted that he later wore it for the rest of the roughly 90-minute flight.
Republican Senator Tom Cotton, from Arkansas, claimed Kerry had a long history of not following his own rules in an interview with Fox News on Wednesday.
'I guess we can say it's better than John Kerry finally decided to fly commercial as opposed to jetting around in Gulfstreams all around the world when he's trying to supposedly solve the climate crisis,' Cotton said.
He added that Kerry 'has a long record of imposing one set of rules on Americans and not following those rules as is evidenced by his jet setting around the world to try and save it from climate change when he's burning more carbon than one person does in an entire year.'
Kerry is the US climate change envoy and was previously criticised for taking a private jet to Iceland in 2019 to receive a climate leadership award.
In an interview, Kerry said it was 'the only choice for somebody like me who is traveling the world to win this battle.'
In January, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an order requiring travelers to wear masks to prevent spread of the virus that causes COVID-19.
'Conveyance operators must also require all persons onboard to wear masks when boarding, disembarking, and for the duration of travel,' the release for the order reads.
'This Order must be followed by all passengers.'
The day before the order went into effect on February 2, American Airlines issued a statement noting that the company would update its own policies to meet the requirements of the CDC and Transportation Security Administration.
David Seymour, the company's Chief Operating Officer, said: 'Our mask requirement has been and will continue to be a critical component of our comprehensive effort to protect the health and well-being of our customers and team members during the pandemic.'
'This federal mandate will provide additional support to our crew members who are working diligently to enforce our policy and further reinforce the safety of air travel during COVID-19,' he added.
The airline said on Twitter that 'masks are required on board.'
The TSA said its mask mandates will remain in effect until May 11, 2021.
'We are looking into this,' the airline tweeted in response to the original post.
'TSA will fully comply with the President's Executive Orders, CDC guidance and the DHS National Emergency determination to ensure healthy and secure travel across all transportation sectors,' said Darby LaJoye, Senior Official performing the duties of the TSA Administrator.
'This will help prevent further spread of COVID-19 and encourage a unified government response.'
