air travel

Watch: Video Shows Exact Moment Plane Mask Mandate Lifted in the Middle of Flights

In the wake of the judge's decision on Monday, some airlines announced that effective immediately, masks would no longer be required on domestic flights -- with some flights changing policy while in midair

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Major airlines were some of the first to update their rules after a federal judge in Florida struck down a national mask mandate for public transportation across the U.S.

In the wake of the judge's decision on Monday, airlines United, Southwest, American, Alaska, Delta and JetBlue announced that effective immediately, masks would no longer be required on domestic flights.

The announcement from the TSA came hours after a federal judge in Florida ruled that the CDC overstepped its authority when it issued a mask mandate for public transportation.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had recently extended the mandate until May 3 to allow more time to study the BA.2 omicron subvariant of the coronavirus now responsible for the vast majority of U.S. cases. But the court decision put the mandate on hold.

Videos posted to social media show flight passengers applauding, cheering and removing their masks at the moment the mandate was lifted. Watch the real-time reactions in the player above.

Associated Press/NBC
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