I like it when people wear masks because of covid. It helps some, especially if they’re wearing N95’s. I always study probabilities and odds for things. If it helps at all I’m for it. If nutty people don’t believe it helps, fine. But they’re required everywhere on the planet except in righty US states where politicians are preying on people’s ignorance.
I’ve kicked off a couple of people for not wearing masks before we pushed back but not airborne. Only diverted once for a disruptive pax and that’s because he was trying to light the airplane on fire. We all have our limits. Lol
To divert for a mask issue is a Captain’s call. I’d tend to continue unless it escalates to more than just not wearing the mask and take care of the issue at the destination. A divert can cost $500,000 on an international flight. I have diverted many other times because we had to. Is a bratty pax just not wearing their mask worth $500K and inconveniencing 100-300 people worth it? Captains call.
We weren’t there so we don’t know exactly what happened.