Story at a glance
- Airlines have reported nearly 2,500 passengers for dangerous or unruly behavior since January, the Federal Aviation Administration said Monday.
- The agency said it had proposed fines of up to $15,000 for five passengers engaged in disruptive behavior.
- In one case announced Monday, a passenger is accused of pushing a flight attendant as crew evaluated face mask compliance.
Airlines have reported nearly 2,500 passengers for dangerous or unruly behavior since January, the Federal Aviation Administration said Monday.
Roughly 1,900 passengers have refused to comply with federal mask policies, and in two cases passengers allegedly assaulted flight attendants who instructed them to obey crew instructions.
The agency said in a press release it had proposed fines of up to $15,000 for five passengers engaged in disruptive behavior in light of its zero tolerance policy toward disruptive passengers. Reuters reported that the agency has identified 395 cases and introduced penalties in 30.
FAA’s zero tolerance policy states that “passengers who interfere with, physically assault, or threaten to physically assault aircraft crew or anyone else on an aircraft face stiff penalties, including fines of up to $35,000 and imprisonment.”
“This dangerous behavior can distract, disrupt, and threaten crew members’ safety functions,” the statement said.
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In one case announced Monday, a passenger is accused of pushing a flight attendant as crew evaluated face mask compliance on board. The agency proposed a $15,000 fine.
The FAA said in another case, a passenger refused to comply with mask policies while boarding and yelled profanities at the crew each time they were asked to wear a mask. Eventually, the crew called law enforcement.
“When he gathered his belongings to leave the plane, he started screaming at a flight attendant. The passenger’s actions delayed the flight’s departure by 28 minutes,” the agency said.
Meanwhile, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently extended a federal face mask mandate on airplanes and in airports through Sept. 13.
The FAA’s announcement follows reports in May that the agency would seek up to $20,000 in fines for passengers who interfered with flight crews’ instructions. The agency is seeking a $10,500 fine against a passenger who flouted mask regulations, before coughing and blowing his nose into a blanket on a flight.
Another man on a flight in March allegedly “yelled, slammed overhead bins, and shouted profanities at the cabin crew” while boarding. The man is also accused of threatening to “harass the flight attendant during the entire flight.” The administration is seeking a $9,000 fine.
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