The Federal Aviation Administration referred an increasing number of cases involving disruptive behaviors on flights to the FBI so far in 2023.
The FAA has been actively cracking down on unruly behavior on airplanes since early 2021 and has received a significant number of reports from airlines and passengers regarding the issue, according to an April 13 news release. The FAA referred more than 250 of the most serious cases to the FBI since the start of the partnership.
“We have zero tolerance for unruly behavior in our skies,” Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said in a April 14 Twitter post. “We referred 17 unruly passenger cases to the FBI for criminal prosecution review – and have referred more than 250 since 2021, helping reduce unruly passenger rates by 80% from peak.”
According to the news release, the rate of these disruptive passenger incidents has dropped more than 80% since they hit record-high numbers in early 2021. However, the FAA reported this "unacceptable behavior continues to occur."
To combat this disturbing trend, the FAA has implemented several measures to prevent and deter such behavior including heavy fines and banning passengers from future flights. Any passenger who assaults, threatens, intimidates or interferes with airline crew members can face civil penalties up to $37,000 per violation, according to the release.
The agency also launched an extensive awareness campaign to educate the public about the consequences of engaging in unruly behavior on planes, the release said.
“If you act out on a plane, you should just stay at home because we will come after you with serious consequences,”Acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen, a former commercial airline pilot, said in the release. “We have zero tolerance for unruly behavior.”
The 2023 referrals include instances of inappropriate touching, assaults against flight attendants and passengers and an attempt to open an aircraft door, according to the release.
“The FBI will continue to work with our FAA partners to ensure the safety of all passengers and to combat violence aboard commercial flights,” FBI Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the Criminal Investigative Division said in the release. “We remain committed to investigating all incidents that fall within FBI jurisdiction aboard commercial flights.”