43 US airline passenger cases referred to FBI for potential criminal prosecution by FAA.

The FAA has referred 43 unruly US airline passenger cases to the FBI for potential criminal prosecution, bringing the total number of cases referred since late 2021 to over 310. Unruly passenger incidents, which include physical or sexual assault, threats or attempts to breach the flight deck, and aggressive behavior, have decreased by over 80% since their peak in 2021, when 5,981 cases were reported. The FAA has a zero-tolerance policy for unruly behavior and can propose civil penalties up to $37,000, but lacks authority to file criminal charges, which is why referrals are made to the FBI for possible prosecution.

August 21, 2024
27 Articles

Further Reading