In a drunken flying incident, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration wants a $14,500 civil penalty against an airline passenger for allegedly interfering with flight attendants who instructed him to wear a face mask and stop consuming alcohol he had brought on board the aircraft. The incident occurred late last year on a jetBlue Airlines flight from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York to the Dominican Republic. The FAA says the passenger “crowded the traveler sitting next to him, spoke loudly, and refused to wear his face mask.” (Trump Legacy – FAA Adopts Stricter Unruly Passenger Policy)
A flight attendant warned the man that jetBlue’s policies required him to wear a face mask, and twice warned him that FAA regulations prohibit passengers from drinking alcohol they bring on board an aircraft. Despite these warnings, the passenger continued to remove his face mask and drink his own alcohol, the FAA alleges.
A flight attendant issued the passenger a “Notice to Cease Illegal and Objectionable Behavior,” and the cabin crew notified the captain about his actions two separate times. As a result of the passenger’s actions, the captain declared an emergency and returned to JFK, where the plane landed 4,000 pounds overweight due to the amount of fuel on board. Flight attendants moved the other passenger to a different seat after they complained about the man’s behavior.
On 13 January of this year the FAA Administrator Steve Dickson signed an order for a stricter legal enforcement policy against unruly airline passengers in the wake of recent, troubling incidents. “The FAA has seen a disturbing increase in incidents where airline passengers have disrupted flights with threatening or violent behavior. These incidents have stemmed both from passengers’ refusals to wear masks and from recent violence at the U.S. Capitol,” (the January 6th sacking of the capital) the FAA said.
The FAA omitted the fact that Trump incited the violence and sedition against the US government in the waning days of his reign as the despot who would be king. Passengers who interfere with, physically assault, or threaten to physically assault aircraft crew or anyone else on an aircraft face legal penalty, including fines of up to $35,000 and imprisonment. “This dangerous behavior can distract, disrupt, and threaten crewmembers’ safety functions,” the FAA said. And the functions of democracy.
Typically, the FAA addresses unruly-passenger incidents using a variety of methods ranging from warnings and counseling to civil penalties. Effective immediately, however, the FAA will not use warnings or counseling. The agency will pursue legal enforcement action against any passenger who assaults, threatens, intimidates, or interferes with airline crew members. This policy will be in effect through March 30, 2021. Why should it stop then was unexplained?
The FAA does not have regulatory authority over aviation security or no-fly lists. The agency works with federal law enforcement and national security “partners” on any reported security threats that may impact aviation safety.
WASHINGTON June 14, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposes civil penalties ranging from $7,500 to $15,500 against four airline passengers for allegedly interfering with flight attendants who instructed them to obey cabin crew instructions and various federal regulations.
The enforcement actions announced today are part of the FAA’s zero-tolerance policy for unruly and dangerous behavior by passengers. Since Jan. 1, 2021, the FAA has received approximately 3,000 reports of unruly behavior by passengers, including about 2,300 reports of passengers refusing to comply with the federal facemask mandate. The cases are as follows:
• $15,500 against a passenger on a Feb. 5, 2021, jetBlue Airlines flight from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to Las Vegas, Nev. The FAA alleges flight attendants told the passenger at least 10 times to wear his facemask over both his mouth and nose during the flight unless he was actively eating or drinking. He repeatedly ignored their instructions. He also drank mini bottles of alcohol that jetBlue did not serve to him, which is against FAA regulations.
• $10,500 against a passenger on a Feb. 27, 2021, jetBlue Airlines flight from New York to Cancun, Mexico. The FAA alleges that the passenger refused to wear her facemask properly and in one instance inserted her finger into her nose in response to a flight attendant’s direction to wear her mask. The FAA further alleges she yelled, used profanity and refused to read a warning note that a flight attendant issued to her. As a result of her disruptive behavior, the captain diverted the flight to Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
• $10,300 against a passenger on a Feb 3, 2021, Alaska Airlines flight from Boise, Idaho, to Los Angeles, Calif. The FAA alleges the passenger smoked an e-cigarette in the airplane lavatory, which activated the lavatory smoke detector system. The FAA further alleges the passenger walked through the cabin without his facemask over his mouth and nose, and repeatedly ignored flight attendants’ instructions to wear his facemask properly.
• $7,500 against a passenger on a Feb. 3, 2021, Southwest Airlines flight from Fort Myers, Fla., to Denver, Colo. The FAA alleges the passenger repeatedly refused to comply with flight attendants’ instructions to wear her facemask.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) reminded the traveling public on May 14 that if you travel, you are still required to wear a mask on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States. Masks are also required in U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations.
Federal law prohibits interfering with aircraft crew or physically assaulting or threatening to physically assault aircraft crew or anyone else on an aircraft. Passengers are subject to civil penalties for such misconduct, which can threaten the safety of the flight by disrupting or distracting cabin crew from their safety duties. Additionally, federal law provides for criminal fines and imprisonment of passengers who interfere with the performance of a crewmember’s duties by assaulting or intimidating that crewmember.
The FAA is strictly enforcing a zero-tolerance policy toward passengers who cause disturbances on flights or fail to obey flight crew instructions in violation of the FAA’s regulations or engage in conduct proscribed by federal law.
The passengers have 30 days after receiving the FAA’s enforcement letter to respond to the agency. The FAA does not identify individuals against whom it proposes civil penalties.