The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has called on the FBI to investigate 22 additional cases of unruly passengers, bringing the total number of investigation requests for 2023 to 39. These cases, which date back to as late as December 2021 and as early as April 2023, involve offenses such as sexual assault, bomb threats, and attempts to break into the cockpit.
One of the April cases involved a passenger who had to be restrained in handcuffs after engaging in disruptive behavior, including yelling, cursing, and throwing objects at fellow passengers, according to the FAA. The allegations also include a passenger attempting to break into the cockpit in February 2023, sexual assault of female passengers in January 2023, and airdropping a bomb threat to fellow travelers in October 2022.
Further incidents listed by the FAA include two passengers attacking a fellow flier on a June 2022 flight, a passenger assaulting a flight attendant in January 2023, and another passenger sexually and physically assaulting an unaccompanied minor in July 2022. Troublesome behavior such as vaping, smoking in the plane's bathroom, and consuming personal alcohol has also been reported.
US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the seriousness of unruly behavior on airplanes, stating, "Unruly behavior poses serious safety concerns for passengers and crew alike, which is why we are addressing this issue aggressively." He added that individuals who act out on airplanes can face criminal prosecution and fines of up to $37,000 per violation.
Since late 2021, the FAA has referred over 270 cases to the FBI to ensure that disruptive passengers face appropriate criminal charges. The FAA has the authority to seek fines of up to $37,000 against unruly passengers but lacks the ability to file criminal charges, hence the need for collaboration with the FBI.
Incidents of unruly behavior on flights peaked in 2021, with many cases attributed to anger over mask requirements that have since been dropped. The number of incidents decreased to under 2,500 in 2022 and under 1,200 so far in 2023, according to the FAA.
The aviation industry has faced significant challenges due to the actions of unruly passengers. Stellantis, an automobile manufacturer, has stated that it is cooperating with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the investigation.
