Baby wearing Covid mask on New Zealand plane sparks furious debate

'Super-sweet' photo of baby wearing full-face mask on plane sparks furious debate - but is everything as it seems? Baby pictured wearing an adult surgical mask with holes cut out for his eyes Photograph of the baby dressed in pink, which was taken on a plane, has gone viral Many have praised the mother for being careful, but others have compared it to "child abuse"

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Posted: 5:22 PM BST, 5 July 2022 | Update: 5.22pm BST, 5th July 2022

A photograph of a baby on a plane wearing an adult surgical mask with holes cut out for his eyes sparked a fierce debate online.

The photo has since gone viral and with many praising the mum for trying to protect her pink-clad baby from Covid, others claimed it was "child abuse".

But the photographer who captured the image on a flight 'Air New Zealand from Auckland to Wellington on July 1, said it was a 'super smooth interaction' and nothing sinister.

'The baby was full of joy, jumping and laughing. It made waiting to get off the plane a little more entertaining,” he said. " height="484" width="634" alt="This photo of a little girl wearing an adult mask has gone viral, with commenters supporting and opposing her wearing a mask" class="nothing" />

Some online commenters were outraged by the image, however, with one saying: "If I saw this on a flight, I would take it off the mask myself."

Others said the photo was "so incredibly sad" and claimed it was "dangerous to cover their breathing holes like that".

Mr. Opperman, who has since made his Instagram account private, defended the mother, saying the mask was not tight around the baby's face.

' I think it was a mix of laughing and doing your best to protect your child with the equipment at his disposal,” he told the