Two young musicians staged a musical protest at the steps to a plane after they were told their violins were not welcome on board.

Nicholas Kendall and Zachary De Pue are part of a group called Time for Three. De Pue is also concertmaster of the Indianapolis Symphony. They were trying to board a US Airways flight from Charlotte to Fayetteville, Arksansas for a concert. But the pilot told them they would have to check their violins rather than carry them on board.

They say they’ve never had a problem before, and stood outside the plane hoping the crew would change their minds. De Pue played Bach while Kendall filmed their protest, which they posted online.

The plane took off without them, and they were booked on a later flight. By then, they had found out about a 2012 Federal law that allows musicians to carry small instruments on board.

They made their concert. But they posted the video protest to alert other musicians about their rights.

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