Thinking about causing trouble when the crew on an airliner asks you to follow the rules? Federal officials say you better reconsider that tarmac temper tantrum.
Federal Aviation Administration officials announced new, stricter rules when a passenger’s actions potentially endanger other passengers and crew.
FAA Administrator Steve Dickson ordered a stricter legal enforcement policy against unruly airline passengers late Wednesday in the wake of what he called recent, troubling incidents.
“Flying is the safest mode of transportation and I signed this order to keep it that way,” Dickson said in a statement.
Starting now, the FAA will not issue warnings and will pursue legal enforcement action against any passenger who assaults, threatens, intimidates, or interferes with airline crew members. Penalties carry fines up to $35,000 and possible prison time. The policy will be in effect through March 30, 2021, officials said.
“We appreciate the FAA’s attention and swift action on this important issue to further ensure the safety of our crews and passengers,” said Robert Einhorn, a United Airlines spokesman.
Dickson cited a disturbing increase in incidents where airline passengers have disrupted flights with threatening or violent behavior. The incidents have stemmed from both from passengers’ refusals to wear masks and from recent violence at the U.S. Capitol, he said.
“We welcome the FAA’s order to implement a more stringent policy regarding unruly passenger behavior,” said Nicholas E. Calio, Airlines For America President and CEO. “We cannot have any form of dangerous behavior that threatens the safety of passengers and crew members.”
FAA officials have brought more than 1,300 enforcement actions against unruly passengers during the past 10 years. The most recent include two separate incidents last year where the FAA proposed civil penalties against passengers who assaulted or interfered with a flight crew member who asked them to wear a mask.
The FAA proposed a $15,000 civil penalty against a passenger on an Allegiant Air flight in August from Clearwater, Florida, to Mascoutah, Illinois. The passenger “repeatedly screamed obscenities at and hit a flight attendant, and grabbed the phone from the flight attendant, while he was speaking with the captain about the passenger’s behavior over a face-covering dispute,” the FAA said. The airliner’s captain diverted the flight.
On Jan. 9, 2020, six Port Authority police officers at Newark Liberty airport were injured as they arrested a passenger who was accused of assaulting a flight attendant after he charged toward the cockpit on a United Airlines flight from Washington D.C. One officer suffered four broken ribs.
Another flight to Newark airport had to divert and make an unscheduled landing in Colorado after passengers became disruptive and didn’t follow the order of crew members after a man on the plane had a sneezing and coughing attack due to allergies on March 9. Police removed the disruptive passengers in Denver.
Airline officials said the order is intended for the unruly or disruptive passengers. It is not a draconian measure to be taken against a person who forgot a mask or had one slip off during a flight. Those passengers would get a gentle reminder and offer of a free mask, if needed, officials said.
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Larry Higgs may be reached at [email protected].