U.S. Aviation regulator, the Federal Aviation Administration has announced that it referred 43 cases of unruly passengers to the FBI over the past year. The amount now brings the total to more than 310 incidents, since the end of 2021, a figure which is considered to be in Red Zone.
The partnership between the two agencies formed after the FAA instituted its “zero-tolerance” policy in early 2021 following a surge in unruly incidents when passengers returned to flying during the pandemic.
Carriers in the United States of America have reported more than 1,240 unruly incidents to the FAA so far this year, as compared to nearly 6,000 in 2021 and 1,161 reports of unruly incidents in year 2019. Relatively few are considered serious enough to be referred to the FBI for investigation and possible criminal charges.
Taking as an example, in a case from April this year, a federal judge ruled that a British Airways passenger must pay a penalty of $20,638 for interfering with the crew on a United Airlines flight between London and Newark, New Jersey on 1st March this year.
As per the the Department of Justice’s account, the unruly passenger got into a heated argument with his girlfriend resulting in to be restrained and the flight diverted to Bangor, Maine.
During last year, there was another passenger who assaulted crewmembers and fellow passengers, and tried to open exit doors during a flight on March 24, 2023. Also,on January 17, 2023 A passenger who threatened to harm everyone on board and crash the aircraft on January 17, 2023.
The FAA said the rate of passenger misconduct has fallen by more than 80% since the beginning of 2021, when many of the confrontations began with passengers who opposed wearing masks amid the pandemic.
A federal judge dropped the mask requirement in 2022, leaving it up to airlines, airports and transportation systems to decide on their use. The federal government did not appeal the ruling. Airlines and Republican politicians urged the FAA to let the ruling be eliminated.
"There is no excuse whatsoever for improper behavior," FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said Wednesday. "It puts the safety of everyone on board at risk, and we have zero tolerance for it."
“Dangerous passengers put everyone at risk — and the Biden-Harris Administration has been clear that those who disrupt flights will be held accountable,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said, noting that, in addition to making criminal referrals, the FAA can impose “stiff fines” of up to $37,000 per violation.
The incidents those referred as cases to above include passengers who attempted to break into the cockpit, assaulted crew members and other passengers, or threatened others on board the aircraft.
FBI involvement is significant as the FAA can propose criminal penalties of up to $37,000, but it does not have the legal authority to file criminal charges. An FBI investigation in these cases could also lead to a possible felony conviction, but considered not enough to deter some passengers from being unruly.
Passengers, who are victims or witness of a crime aboard a Plane inside U.S.A., should report the incident to the crew, airport authority security offcials, and the FBI at tips.fbi.gov.
You may like to read....
.jpg)
