US airline industry sees surge in disruptive passenger cases

Earlier this week, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that there had been over 1,300 reported incidents of disruptive passengers on domestic US flights since February of this year. The numbers are staggering high considering the FAA usually sees only around 130-150 cases per year.

Back in January 2021, the FAA had announced a new “zero-tolerance policy” on disruptive passengers before, during or after a flight. According to the FAA, there were two separate incidents that were the main driving factors behind this new policy.

The first was mainly due to the relative belligerence and unruliness of passengers not wanting to wear masks onboard an aircraft. The second factor was the large gathering of anti-mask opposition which was visible leading up to the US capitol riot back in early January 2021. Before the introduction of this zero-tolerance policy, the FAA previously disciplined violators with measures such as warnings, counselling and smaller civil penalties.

However, in the wake of the new zero-tolerance mask and disruption policy, passengers can now be fined up to $35,000 and face imprisonment for interfering with crew members. Even though US domestic passenger figures are still well below that of the pre-pandemic levels, there has been a noticeable increase in disruptive incidents onboard planes in recent weeks.

There have also been numerous reports this year about passengers failing to wear a mask while travelling onboard an aircraft. Some of the more recent events include Alaska state Senator Lora Reinbold, who was banned by Alaska Airlines for refusing to comply with face mask requirements. Meanwhile in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; a passenger was escorted off of a flight in Washington D.C., for arguing with attendants about masks.

Last week, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), revealed that some 2,000 passengers had been reported for refusing to wear a face-covering since February 2nd when the requirements came into effect.

More recently, a 28-year-old woman was arrested for allegedly attacking an American Airlines flight attendant on the flight from Miami to New York City. While a Los Angeles-bound aircraft had to make an emergency landing in Denver after a passenger allegedly tried to open an emergency exit while in flight, according to local media reports.

The president of the Association of Flight Attendants Union, Sara Nelson, spoke about the abuse flight attendants had reported experiencing this year. She said that it is “way off the charts” compared to what has happened in the past two decades. She added there has been a wide range of incidents, including flight attendants being physically or verbally assaulted, pushed and choked.

In a response to the ongoing outcry, the FAA administrator, Steve Dickson tweeted stating “We will not tolerate interfering with a flight crew and the performance of their safety duties. Period.” A reassuring message for both passengers and flight crews and also highlights that the FAA will have no sympathy for those who willingly try to disrupt the necessary duties of flight crew members both on the ground and in the air. 

Source: https://aeronewsx.com/us-airline-industry-sees-surge-in-disruptive-passenger-cases/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=us-airline-industry-sees-surge-in-disruptive-passenger-cases