Unruly passengers on flights need to be charged as criminals, airline unions say

By Lydia Dishman

June 21, 2021

Although air travel has taken a major hit during the pandemic, now that many of the restrictions are being lifted, the industry is experiencing a resurgence. But for flight crews, life above the clouds is quickly reaching a tipping (or should we say boiling) point, as the number of passengers exhibiting aggressive and unruly behavior continues to rise.

On the heels of a Federal Aviation Administration report that cited more than 3,000 incidences of unruly passenger behavior since January 13, 2021—two of which resulted in Delta Air Lines flights being diverted—a coalition of aviation unions and industry stakeholders escalated their grievance to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland.

“Aviation safety is a federal matter that impacts passengers and crew members across the country as well as in interstate travel,” the stakeholders wrote in a letter made public on Monday. “[It] is not a local issue subject to jurisdictional variations. We ask that, as the FAA has placed special emphasis on its enforcement program, the Department should direct federal prosecutors to dedicate resources for egregious cases.”

The letter was signed by the following:

    Airlines for America

    Air Line Pilots Association

    Allied Pilots Association

    Association of Flight Attendants

    Association of Professional Flight Attendants

    Coalition of Airline Pilots Association

    National Air Carrier Association

    Regional Airline Association

    Southwest Airlines Pilots Association

    Transport Workers Union of America

Criminal prosecution would not only serve as adequate punishment, the signatories said, but would also act as a deterrent to future disruptions. To date, the FAA levied civil penalties related to passenger behavior in the amount of $368,000 against 21 passengers, according to the letter. Since the beginning of the year, the FAA has also conducted 465 investigations into assaults, threats of assault, or other interference with crew members.

The groups have asked the government to “send a strong and consistent message through criminal enforcement.”

You can read the full letter here.

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