- United Airlines is investigating the leak of Ted Cruz’s flight data in Cancún.
- A company executive told Politico that whoever leaked could be fired.
- Cruz received a strong reaction when flying to Cancún when a devastating winter storm devastated Texas.
- Visit the Insider Business section for more stories.
United Airlines is investigating the leak of flight information from Texas Senator Ted Cruz for a trip to Cancun, Mexico earlier this week, Politico said.
“It is against United’s policies to share personal information about our customers and we are investigating this incident,” a company executive told Politico in a statement, adding that whoever leaked the information could be fired.
Cruz had an intense reaction this week for traveling to Cancún with his family, while Texas was in the middle of a devastating blackout caused by a winter storm. While millions in the state lost energy and were forced to live in freezing conditions without heating, water or electricity, the senator left for Cancún with his family on Wednesday.
In an initial statement on Thursday, Cruz said he made the trip because he wanted to “be a good father” and added that he intended to return to the United States that afternoon.
“With classes canceled during the week, our girls asked to take a trip with friends,” he said. “Wanting to be a good father, I flew with them last night and I’m flying back this afternoon.”
A Thrifty Traveler editor tweeted what appeared to be Cruz’s flight information showing that the senator planned to travel back on Thursday afternoon. But Edward Russell of Skift tweeted that he spoke to a United source who said that Cruz only made the return reservation at around 6 am Eastern time on Thursday and was scheduled to return on Saturday. Peter Alexander of NBC also confirmed the time change.
A series of text messages that Cruz’s wife, Heidi, appears to have sent also indicated that the family was planning a longer trip.
“Can anyone or wants to go out during the week?” said one of the texts, which were obtained by Insider and other media. “We can go to Cancún, there is a direct flight at 445 hours and hotels with capacity. Seriously.”
Another text appeared to show Heidi Cruz saying in the group chat, “the Ritz Carlton has rooms for about US $ 300 and we have been there many times, excellent security of property, etc., without problems.”
He continued, “I will confirm that we need to call the hotel this morning to confirm, but you only test when you arrive, as it needs to be three days before you return.”
At least 58 people died as a result of the storm in areas ranging from Texas to Ohio, according to The New York Times. More than 14 million Texans were told to boil water on Friday after the storm took water treatment facilities from the air, and President Joe Biden declared a major disaster in the state on Saturday, freeing up millions of dollars in financing. federal government for 77 counties.
Cruz received harsh criticism from Democrats for leaving the state amid a power outage. Former Texas congressman Beto O’Rourke, who challenged Cruz in the 2018 Senate midterm elections, criticized him for “vacationing in Cancún now, when people are literally freezing to death in the state he went to elected to represent and serve “.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York reiterated its demand that Cruz resign.
“If Senator Cruz had resigned in January, after helping to raise a violent uprising that killed several people, he could have taken a vacation in peace” she said in a tweet. “Texans must continue to demand his resignation.”