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FAA PROPOSES TWELVE CIVIL PENALTIES AGAINST PASSENGERS FOR ALLEGEDLY INTERFERING WITH FLIGHT ATTENDANTS

July 30, 2021

The FAA issued two separate Press Releases on June 14th and June 22nd in regards to twelve instances in which passengers interfered with flight attendants on commercial flights. Federal law currently requires that passengers refrain from interfering with aircraft crew and strictly prohibits threatening to assault, or actually physically assaulting, aircraft crew or any other passengers on board an aircraft. The FAA has strictly enforced a zero-tolerance policy in these cases for several months.

$15,500 – A passenger allegedly failed to properly wear a facemask properly after being asked at least ten times. Additionally, the passenger drank mini bottles of alcohol that the airline did not serve to him, which is against FAA regulations;
$10,500 – A passenger allegedly failed to properly wear a facemask and continued to yell and use profanity after being asked to read a warning note that a flight attendant issued to her. Consequently, due to the disruptive behavior, the captain was forced to divert the flight to Fort Lauderdale, FL;
$10,300 – A passenger allegedly failed to properly wear a facemask, walked through the cabin without a facemask, and activated a lavatory smoke detector system after smoking an e-cigarette;
$7,500 – A passenger allegedly failed to comply with numerous instructions to wear a facemask;
$22,000 – A passenger allegedly failed to comply with numerous instructions to wear a facemask, walked through the cabin while the fastened seatbelt sign was on, and drank alcohol the airline did not serve, which is against FAA regulations;
$21,000 – A passenger allegedly failed to comply with numerous instructions from flight attendants and the captain, which resulted in the captain returning the aircraft from the runway to the gate. After a customer service supervisor boarded to escort the passenger, the passenger threw the mask at the supervisor and hit him in his jaw and was detained and cited by Dallas police for assault;
$19,000 – A passenger allegedly became angry when the crew notified passengers that the flight needed to be returned to Phoenix due to unfavorable weather in Mexico. The passenger began hitting the ceiling of the aircraft, began using offensive language, and hit a neighboring passenger upon being escorted off the aircraft;
$15,000 – A passenger allegedly assaulted a flight attendant when he reached the passenger’s row while documenting who was not wearing a mask during the flight;
$14,000 – A passenger allegedly drank alcohol from a bottle that the airline did not serve him which is against FAA regulations. Upon attempts to retrieve the bottle from the passenger, he began shouting profanities at the flight attendant and other passengers; refused to wear a mask; and was moved to the back of the plane in an attempt to separate him from other passengers;

$14,000 – A passenger allegedly failed to comply with facemask instructions and unfastened her seatbelt and stood while the “Fasten Seat Belt” sign was illuminated;
$10,500 – A passenger allegedly refused to wear his mask and was talking on the phone prior to take off, which resulted in the captain returning the flight to the gate;
$9,000 – A passenger allegedly failed to comply with facemask instructions. Upon being instructed, he loudly argued with a flight attendant and began to unbuckle his seatbelt to stand and “get into it and get to the bottom of this;

Passengers have 30 days after receiving an FAA enforcement letter to respond to the agency.

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).