FAA sends dozens of unruly passenger cases to FBI for possible prosecution
By Lauren Taylor (Anchor/Reporter), Mathew Grisham (Digital Producer), Jack Henry (Video Editor)
This report was created with support from enhanced software.
The Federal Aviation Administration has intensified its efforts to combat disruptive behavior on flights. The agency has referred 43 cases to the FBI for potential prosecution in the last year.
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FAA sent 43 more cases of unruly airline passengers to the FBI for possible prosecution
Click to see story on Associated Press NewsFAA sent 43 cases of unruly airline passengers to the FBI for possible prosecution
Click to see story on abc NewsFAA sent 43 more cases of unruly airline passengers to the FBI for possible prosecution
Click to see story on PBS NewsHourFBI is reviewing some unruly passenger cases after FAA referral
Click to see story on BBC NewsFAA sent 43 more cases of unruly airline passengers to the FBI for possible prosecution
Click to see story on KIFIFAA refers 43 more unruly passenger cases to FBI for investigation
Click to see story on The HillFAA refers 43 more unruly U.S. airline passengers to FBI | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Click to see story on Star AdvertiserThe FBI is looking into several dozen cases of unruly passengers. Some wanted to enter the cockpit during the flight
Click to see story on Digi 24Federal Aviation Administration refers 43 unruly passenger cases to FBI
Click to see story on Spectrum Local NewsFAA refers 43 more unruly passenger cases to FBI for investigation
Click to see story on WCBD‘No excuse’ for bad airline behavior: FAA referred 43 new reports to the FBI
Click to see story on Staten Island AdvanceFAA sent 43 more cases of unruly airline passengers to the FBI for possible prosecution
Click to see story on The ColumbianFAA refers 43 more unruly passenger cases to FBI for investigation
Click to see story on BRPROUDFAA refers 43 more unruly passenger cases to FBI for investigation
Click to see story on KFOR-TVFAA refers 43 more unruly passenger cases to FBI for investigation
Click to see story on WATEFAA refers 43 more unruly passenger cases to FBI for investigation
Click to see story on WHO-DTFAA refers 43 more unruly passenger cases to FBI for investigation
Click to see story on PHL17FAA refers 43 more unruly passenger cases to FBI for investigation
Click to see story on WNTZ FOX 48Right
Right
Untracked Bias
FAA sent 43 more cases of unruly airline passengers to the FBI for possible prosecution
Click to see story on My Mother LodeU.S. Aviation Administration sends 43 cases of ailing passengers to the FBI for investigation
Click to see story on Independent EspañolFBI receives 43 ‘unruly airline passenger’ case referrals
Click to see story on Brooklyn Daily EagleSince 2021, that means the total now sits at 310, though it’s unclear how many lead to actual prosecution. The FAA said it has absolutely no tolerance for unruly behavior and it threatens the safety of everyone on board.
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Authorities say that despite an 80% decrease in total incidents on planes since 2021, current levels remain unacceptably high. In 2021, airlines filed nearly 6,000 reports with the FAA, more than 4,000 of those were related to face mask disputes.
Now, officials say incidents primarily involve aggressive behavior toward crew and passengers, unrelated to masks. The mask mandate for planes and other travel was struck down by a Florida judge in 2022.
The cases referred to the FBI encompass a wide range of severe infractions, from attempts to breach the cockpit, to physical assault and sexual misconduct.
The FAA has implemented stringent measures to deter unruly behavior. Substantial fines and criminal charges top that list. Passengers who assault, threaten, intimidate, or interfere with airline crew can face civil penalties of up to $37,000 per violation.
In 2023, the FAA imposed $7.5 million in fines after handling over 2,000 unruly passenger reports.
Lauren Taylor
THE FAA HAS INTENSIFIED EFFORTS TO COMBAT DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR ON FLIGHTS.
THE AGENCY HAS REFERRED 43 CASES TO THE FBI FOR POTENTIAL PROSECUTION IN THE LAST YEAR.
AUTHORITIES SAY DESPITE AN 80% DECREASE IN TOTAL INCIDENTS SINCE 2021 — CURRENT LEVELS REMAIN UNACCEPTABLY HIGH.
IN 2021, AIRLINES FILED NEARLY 6,000 REPORTS WITH THE FAA, WITH MORE THAN 4,000 RELATED TO FACE MASK DISPUTES.
SINCE that year – the faa HAS reported 310 cases to the fbi.
NOW – OFFICIALS SAY CURRENT INCIDENTS PRIMARILY INVOLVE AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR TOWARD CREW AND PASSENGERS, UNRELATED TO MASKS.
THE CASES REFERRED TO THE FBI ENCOMPASS A WIDE RANGE OF SEVERE INFRACTIONS, FROM ATTEMPTS TO BREACH COCKPITS TO PHYSICAL ASSAULTS AND SEXUAL MISCONDUCT.
THE FAA HAS IMPLEMENTED STRINGENT MEASURES TO DETER UNRULY BEHAVIOR, INCLUDING SUBSTANTIAL FINES AND THE POSSIBILITY OF CRIMINAL CHARGES.
PASSENGERS WHO ASSAULT, THREATEN, INTIMIDATE, OR INTERFERE WITH AIRLINE CREW CAN FACE CIVIL PENALTIES OF UP TO $37,000 PER VIOLATION.
IN 2023, THE FAA IMPOSED $7.5 MILLION IN FINES AFTER HANDLING OVER 2,000 UNRULY PASSENGER REPORTS.
Media Landscape
See who else is reporting on this story and which side of the political spectrum they lean. To read other sources, click on the plus signs below. Learn more about this dataBias Distribution
Left
FAA sent 43 more cases of unruly airline passengers to the FBI for possible prosecution
Click to see story on Associated Press NewsFAA sent 43 cases of unruly airline passengers to the FBI for possible prosecution
Click to see story on abc NewsFAA sent 43 more cases of unruly airline passengers to the FBI for possible prosecution
Click to see story on PBS NewsHourFBI is reviewing some unruly passenger cases after FAA referral
Click to see story on BBC NewsFAA sent 43 more cases of unruly airline passengers to the FBI for possible prosecution
Click to see story on KIFIFAA refers 43 more unruly passenger cases to FBI for investigation
Click to see story on The HillFAA refers 43 more unruly U.S. airline passengers to FBI | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Click to see story on Star AdvertiserThe FBI is looking into several dozen cases of unruly passengers. Some wanted to enter the cockpit during the flight
Click to see story on Digi 24Federal Aviation Administration refers 43 unruly passenger cases to FBI
Click to see story on Spectrum Local NewsFAA refers 43 more unruly passenger cases to FBI for investigation
Click to see story on WCBD‘No excuse’ for bad airline behavior: FAA referred 43 new reports to the FBI
Click to see story on Staten Island AdvanceFAA sent 43 more cases of unruly airline passengers to the FBI for possible prosecution
Click to see story on The ColumbianFAA refers 43 more unruly passenger cases to FBI for investigation
Click to see story on BRPROUDFAA refers 43 more unruly passenger cases to FBI for investigation
Click to see story on KFOR-TVFAA refers 43 more unruly passenger cases to FBI for investigation
Click to see story on WATEFAA refers 43 more unruly passenger cases to FBI for investigation
Click to see story on WHO-DTFAA refers 43 more unruly passenger cases to FBI for investigation
Click to see story on PHL17FAA refers 43 more unruly passenger cases to FBI for investigation
Click to see story on WNTZ FOX 48Right
Right
Untracked Bias
FAA sent 43 more cases of unruly airline passengers to the FBI for possible prosecution
Click to see story on My Mother LodeU.S. Aviation Administration sends 43 cases of ailing passengers to the FBI for investigation
Click to see story on Independent EspañolFBI receives 43 ‘unruly airline passenger’ case referrals
Click to see story on Brooklyn Daily EagleStraight to your inbox.
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