FAA FINES AGAINST UNRULY PASSENGERS NOW TOTAL OVER $1M
September 30, 2021
On August 19, 2021, the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) issued a press release detailing the latest proposed civil penalties against 34 additional airline passengers for allegedly unruly behavior. With the new set of penalties, the total amount of civil penalties imposed by FAA for 2021 has now reached over $1 million. This is all in response to the approximately 3,889 reports FAA has received of unruly passengers on aircraft, 2,867 of which have been related to failure to comply with the federal mask mandate. The new penalties announced this month are as follows:
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A $45,000 penalty against a passenger for allegedly throwing objects, including luggage, at other passengers, and refusing to stay seated. The unruly passenger also allegedly laid on the floor and grabbed a flight attendant by the ankles while simultaneously putting his head up her skirt. The passenger was apprehended after an emergency landing in Richmond, VA.
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A $42,000 penalty against a passenger for allegedly interfering with crewmembers and failing to comply with the federal mask mandate, making non-consensual physical contact with another passenger, throwing an item at another passenger and threatening him with physical harm. The unruly passenger was also accused of making stabbing gestures at other passengers, and snorting what appeared to be cocaine. The passenger was removed after the flight was diverted to Minneapolis, MN.
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A $32,500 penalty against a passenger for allegedly assaulting passengers seated near him for not changing seats to accommodate his travel partner and threatening to commit various physically violent crimes against these passengers. The passenger was removed by law enforcement after the plane was returned to the gate. Southwest, the airline involved, banned the passenger from flying with them in the future.
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A $30,000 penalty against a passenger for allegedly interfering with flight attendants during deplaning. Additionally, the unruly passenger attempted to gain entry to the flight deck by physically assaulting two flight attendants and threatening to kill one of them for not opening the door. The passenger was met by law enforcement after deplaning.
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A $29,000 penalty against a passenger for allegedly interfering with crewmembers and refusing to comply with the federal mask mandate. The passenger also shouted obscenities at crewmembers, intentionally bumped another seated passenger on her way to the lavatory and then punched the seated passenger in the face when the passenger objected to the unruly passenger’s behavior.
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A $25,000 penalty against a passenger for allegedly repeatedly kicking the aircraft bulkhead, screaming obscenities at a passenger next to her and a flight attendant, locking herself in the lavatory for 30 minutes, yelling obscenities at a flight attendant for informing the unruly passenger she had to return to her seat when the fastened seatbelt sign came on, throwing corn nuts at other passengers and shoving her middle fingers in a flight attendant’s face when she was instructed to stop throwing the corn nuts, and putting her middle fingers up at a flight attendant when she was issued a “red card” notice.
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A $19,000 penalty against a passenger for allegedly interfering with crewmembers and refusing to comply with the federal mask mandate, ignoring the fastened seatbelt sign, and pushing a flight attendant.
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A $17,530 penalty against a passenger for allegedly interfering with crewmembers, refusing to comply with the federal mask mandate, vaping on the airplane, and drinking alcohol not provided by the airline.
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A $17,000 penalty against a passenger for allegedly interfering with crewmembers and refusing to comply with the federal mask mandate, attempting to use a vape pen, and drinking alcohol not provided by the airline.
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A $16,700 penalty against a passenger for allegedly smoking in the lavatory and on another flight a few days later, allegedly physically and verbally assaulting other passengers and shouting obscenities at crewmembers.
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A $15,000 penalty against a passenger for allegedly striking a flight attendant in the nose.
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A $15,000 penalty against a passenger for allegedly drinking alcohol that was not provided by the airline.
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A $15,000 penalty against another passenger for allegedly drinking alcohol that was not provided by the airline.
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A $13,000 penalty against a passenger for allegedly interfering with crewmembers, refusing to comply with the federal mask mandate and drinking alcohol that was not provided by the airline.
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A $13,000 penalty against another passenger for allegedly interfering with crewmembers, refusing to comply with the federal mask mandate and drinking alcohol that was not provided by the airline.
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A $13,000 penalty against a passenger for refusing to comply with the federal mask mandate and drinking alcohol that was not provided by the airline.
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A $13,000 penalty against a passenger for allegedly interfering with crewmembers, refusing to comply with flight attendant instructions to turn off her phone during takeoff, refusing to comply with the federal mask mandate and drinking alcohol that was not provided by the airline.
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A $10,500 penalty against a passenger for allegedly interfering with crewmembers, refusing to comply with the federal mask mandate, and urinating on the lavatory floor.
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A $10,500 penalty against a passenger for disrupting a flight attendant and repeatedly yelling obscenities at and shoving his traveling partner.
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A $10,500 penalty against a passenger for allegedly interfering with crewmembers, refusing to comply with the federal mask mandate, and being combative while walking to the lavatory while the fastened seatbelt sign was on.
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A $10,500 penalty against a passenger for allegedly interfering with crewmembers and refusing to comply with the federal mask mandate.
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A $10,500 penalty against a passenger for refusing to comply with the federal mask mandate.
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A $10,315 penalty against a passenger for allegedly vaping on the airplane during boarding and yelling at flight attendants when told to stop vaping.
If you have any questions, please contact Evelyn Sahr (esahr@eckertseamans.com or 202-659-6622); Drew Derco (dderco@eckertseamans.com or 202-659-6665), or Andy Orr (aorr@eckertsemans.com or 202-659-6625).
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