Mother kicked off plane for breastfeeding son

FIRST ON 7: Virgin Australia has come under fire for calling federal and local police after a woman refused to stop breastfeeding her son.

As the plane taxied down the runway, Virginie Rutgers started breastfeeding her crying 10-month old son.

She used a baby sling to cover up for privacy - but she said the cabin supervisor demanded she remove it.

"He started to raise his voice and [was] being quite abusive."

Virginie said staff refused to explain why the baby carrier was a safety hazard.

Instead, the pilot returned to the terminal and Virginie was forced off the plane - where federal and local police officers were waiting.

"I was in a state of shock and he was screaming because I couldn't feed him any more."

Virginie was released without charge but she was stranded on the Gold Coast.

"We were just left on our own at the airport, literally."

Nursing lecturer from RMIT, Jennifer James, said the move was uncalled for.

"She was doing the right thing by her baby and she was penalised for it."

A Virgin Australia representative was adamant that breastfeeding had nothing to do with Virginie's experience.

"Our crew acted in accordance with Civil Aviation Safety Authority regulations and, most importantly, with your child's safety at the forefront of their actions."

Ron Bartsch from Aviation law consultants said he understood the move by the airline.

"I can understand that they would have taken precautions to remove that as a risk."

Virgin refused to compensate Virginie for the extra night in a hotel and cab rides but offered her a flight credit instead but she was unmoved.

"I'm just not willing to travel with them at all any more,” she said.

She returned home on Qantas.

Morning news break – March 31