Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the FAA has fined unruly airline passengers more than $20.9 million.
At a Glance
- The FAA has fined “unruly passengers” over $20 million since 2020.
- Passenger misconduct spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic, peaking in 2022.
- The FAA enforces a zero-tolerance policy towards unruly passengers.
- Over 300 serious cases have been referred to the FBI since 2021.
FAA’s Zero-Tolerance Policy
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has adopted a strict zero-tolerance policy for unruly passengers since COVID-19 began. This policy emerged in response to a dramatic increase in passenger misconduct, pushing fines to unprecedented levels. Between 2020 and 2023, the FAA imposed fines totaling over $20.9 million.
In 2020, when air travel was restricted due to the pandemic, fines amounted to $0.6 million. However, as travel resumed in 2021, the number of fines surged to $5 million, peaking at $8.4 million in 2022. This aggressive approach by the FAA led to an overall decrease in unruly incidents by 65% from 2021 to 2023.
Fines against unruly passengers have reached $1M since 1/1/2021:
– 3,889 unruly reports
– 2,867 refusing to wear a mask reports
Learn more at https://t.co/VpQGgG9dE1.#FlySmart pic.twitter.com/y9lAR6tYxT— The FAA ✈️ (@FAANews) August 19, 2021
Severity of Incidents
While the FAA’s efforts have yielded positive results, reports of passenger misconduct remain higher than pre-pandemic levels. In 2023 alone, fines amounted to $7.5 million, still significantly higher than the sums recorded before 2020. By September 8, 2023, the FAA had already received nearly 900 reports of unruly passengers.
Passenger misconduct includes severe breaches such as attempts to access the flight deck and physical assaults on the crew or other passengers. Over 300 of these serious cases have been referred to the FBI since 2021 for further investigation, underscoring the grave nature of these incidents.
https://twitter.com/faanews%3Flang%3Den
Largest Fines on Record
Two of the largest fines ever were proposed in 2022 against passengers who committed serious offenses in 2021. These fines amounted to $81,950 and $77,272 for actions including assaulting flight attendants and other passengers, inappropriate physical contact, and attempting to exit the airplane mid-flight. The notable size of these penalties reflects the severity of the incidents involved.
The Zero Tolerance policy and awareness campaigns have significantly reduced incidents over time. However, passengers’ behavior has evolved, with aviation security expert Jeffrey Price attributing some of this to increased stress and a growing sense of entitlement among travelers post-pandemic. “Increased stress pretty much always results in a shorter fuse, whether that’s on a plane or on the road,” he said.
“Increased stress pretty much always results in a shorter fuse, whether that’s on a plane or on the road,” Price told BI, adding that some travelers are behaving “more entitled” post-pandemic.
Federal law clearly prohibits interference with or assaulting aircraft crew members. Such actions carry severe civil and criminal penalties. The FAA and law enforcement agencies remain committed to ensuring the safety and security of all passengers, and those found guilty face significant sanctions.
