Father of Arizona boy taken off plane over allergies dies.
A terminally ill Arizona man has died after his family's removal last month from a plane made headlines when passengers were accused of applauding.
George Alvarado died Thursday at a hospice facility after battling esophageal cancer, his wife, Christina Fabian of suburban Phoenix, said Friday.
Alvarado, Fabian and their 7-year-old son, Giovanni, visited Washington state last month as part of a bucket-list wish for Alvarado.
The family was on a flight in Bellingham bound for the Phoenix area when the boy had an allergic reaction to dogs on board. The family initially tried new seats but airline officials said an on-call doctor recommended they get off the plane.
Fabian said the family had no issue with being removed but did object to several passengers vigorously cheering and clapping when they left. According to Fabian, Giovanni became extremely upset.
"If we needed to get off, that's fine," Fabian said. "But the disgusting behavior of the adult passengers, you just don't expect that from adults at all."
Fabian said her husband will be buried in Los Angeles.
