37 Incidents Of Unruly Passenger Behavior On Airplanes Are Going To The FBI For Criminal Review

Nov 11, 2021 by apost team

Flying on an airplane can be extremely exciting for some and extremely stressful for others. In order to keep everyone safe and keep everything moving smoothly, certain rules and regulations are put in place. Unfortunately, not everyone likes to follow these rules, and this has become more apparent than ever in recent years.

One common rule that most people are used to following in airports is going through security checks and even having to remove their coats and shoes to do so. On the plane itself, people are typically required to wear a seatbelt and stay seated for a portion of the flight, depending on the turbulence.

When it comes to wearing a face mask on airplanes, many passengers all over the world, particularly in the United States, are trying to skirt around this rule. It’s been put in place to keep people safe from the ongoing pandemic. Since airplanes are such tight and confined spaces and it’s impossible to get police or EMTs onboard mid-flight, passengers are expected to keep up with safety measurements and wear face masks.

The number of people choosing to ignore this rule and even acting out in extreme, aggressive behavior has been overwhelming for flight attendants and airline workers, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has had enough.

In November 2021, the FAA released a report showcasing just how many unruly passenger reports and incidents revolving around mask-wearing have occurred since 2020. A total of 37 of the “most egregious” cases have since been reported to the FBI for criminal review.

Despite mask-wearing being consistent in many countries around the world as people work at staying safe, many passengers on airplanes have continued to show aggressive behaviors and have even resorted to violence against flight attendants, pilots, security officers, and even other passengers. Some flights have been delayed or disrupted due to such poor and dangerous behavior.

As of Nov. 9, 2021, there have been 5,114 unruly passenger reports and 3,710 mask-related incidents reported, according to the FAA. Despite implementing a “zero tolerance” policy on unruly passengers back in January 2021, incidents like this have continued to occur. A total of 973 investigations have been initiated, as well as 239 enforcement cases also being initiated. 

This has led to a record number of hostile passenger cases. Axios reported that 37 of the “most egregious” unruly passenger cases were being sent to the FBI for potential criminal prosecution. This could also result in expensive fines and people being placed on the no-fly list. In August 2021, the FAA reported that fines against unruly passengers had reached $1 million.

Sara Nelson is the president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, which represents close to 50,000 flight attendants and 17 airlines, according to Axios. Speaking about the high level of cases and turning to the FBI for help, she said:

“If a passenger physically assaults crewmembers or other passengers on one airline, they pose a risk to passengers and crew at every airline. They should be banned from flying on all airlines. Period.”

Nelson also said that reporting these 37 cases to the FBI is the “most effective way” to stop the high amount of disruptive passengers and unruly behavior.

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What do you think about the Federal Aviation Association’s response to so many unruly passenger incidents? What travel changes have you noticed in more recent years? Let us know, and be sure to pass this along to your family and friends, too.