A New York City woman is finally coming home after being stranded in Puerto Rico when airline officials told her she was not allowed to board the plane with her emotional support parrot.
Maria Fraterrigo, 81, flew out of John F. Kennedy International Airport with her beloved bird, Plucky, by her side without any problems on January 4.
However, when she tried to return on Saturday, a Frontier Airlines employee told her she had to leave her pet behind, reported WABC.
The grandmother from the Bronx said she brought her bird, who weights 10 ounces, through security at JFK in an approved pet carrier and had the proper paperwork for him.
But, after she made it through airport security in Puerto Rico and to her gate, they told her the New York staff made a mistake allowing her to fly.
'No, no, no, that was a mistake at JFK. If you want to get on the flight, get rid of the bird,' Fraterrigo told WCBS the airline said to her.
'You won't be able to make the flight. Get rid of your bird and give it to somebody.'
Fraterrigo has owned the African Grey Parrot for nearly 20 years, and became close with the bird in 2019 when her husband Richard, a court officer who also worked for the NYPD, passed away from cancer related to 9/11.
After she made it through airport security in Puerto Rico and to her gate, they told her the New York staff made a mistake allowing her to fly with Plucky.
'He kept me going, talking to me, making me laugh when I was down,' Fraterrigo said.
Fraterrigo and her son, Robert, were desperate to get the elderly woman and her emotional support pet back to New York.
'I have been traumatized. It's like I am abandoned,' Fraterrigo said. 'My medicine is home, doctor's appointment. Everything is just a nightmare.
'I got no more tears my mind is blank, just want to go home. That's all, I don't ask for much.'
Robert contacted Frontier and the airline admitted they made a mistake on her flight out of New York, claiming the bird 'was not checked correctly.'
Frontier refunded the ticket, about $190, and issued a $250 voucher while pointing out its policy of not allowing large birds like parrots in the cabin.
According to the airline website, only 'small household birds may be carried on flights within the United States.'
The airline explicitly states large birds such as parrots are never accepted to travel in the cabin.
'My mother did nothing wrong and she just needs to be taken care of and sent home,' Robert Fraterrigo said. '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 Fraterrigo's told the local news station the 81-year-old woman and her bird were coming back to New York, but did not specify how.
Frontier Airlines told DailyMail.com they are investigating the matter and looking to help Fraterrigo get back home.
'We are currently investigating the matter and are in contact with the customer and her family to assist her in returning home as soon as she can present all of the government-mandated documentation,'
the company said.
'As a matter of standard policy (as noted on our website) we do not normally transport parrots on our aircraft.'