Flight attendants are on their hands full of passengers who refuse a face mask – and much worse.
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It has emerged that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other agencies have had unruly passengers who refuse to follow federal laws.
In the last two weeks, three cases that started with a refusal to wear a face mask have escalated into something far worse. In each case, the culprit is now facing a strong fine of between five and six figures.
Exhibit A is a 24-year-old Colorado man who refused to wear a face mask and then stood up and begged for his seat, reports the Associated Press. The man is now facing federal prosecution for intercepting a flight crew and attendants serving a 20-year prison term and a possible $ 250,000 fine.
The incident occurred on March 9 on an Alaskan Airlines flight from Seattle to Denver. After the plane landed, the passenger was arrested, according to FBI details recorded in the U.S. District Court in Denver.
The affidavit states that the passenger appeared to be trying to sleep but swat at a waiter when she asked him again to put on a mask, as the FAA had to. Other passengers called attendants as he began threatening in his seat area.
A Colorado man told the FBI he had several liquors and “a few blows” before boarding the plane, fell asleep on the plane and woke up the plane’s attendants telling him he was ‘waiting. ” He was released on a $ 10,000 bond pending his next court appearance set for March 26, according to an AP report.
The second incident involves a passenger caught on camera punching a Delta flight attendant in the face. Again, the incident started about a controversy about wearing a face mask and then going upstairs. That incident happened on October 19, on a 1997 Delta flight from Miami to Atlanta.
Before he started, a man refused to “wear his mask, fasten his seat board, and fasten his seat belt,” according to an FAA press release. After the plane returns to the gate, flight attendants then asked the man and his female travel companion to voluntarily get off the plane.
“In response, the passenger accompanying the non-compliant passenger did not heed the instructions of the flight attendant, began hitting displays at the flight attendant and other passengers, and struck the flight attendant under her left eye, ”said the FAA, which is on he recommended a $ 27,500 penalty for the female passenger.
Federal law prohibits the flight crew, physically assaulting or even threatening to physically assault an aircraft crew or anyone else on a flight. Passengers who break this law can be subject to civil penalties, criminal fines and imprisonment.
The third event including a passenger who refused, once again, to wear a face mask and also not to stop drinking alcohol which he took on board a December 23 JetBlue flight bound for the Dominican Republic . The plane had to turn back to JFK airport in New York, where it landed 4,000 pounds of fat due to the amount of fuel on board.
The FAA has proposed a civil penalty of $ 14,500 for the passenger. In a statement, the group said the man “gathered the passenger sitting next to him, spoke loudly, and refused to wear a face mask. ”Flight attendants have twice warned the passenger that FAA rules prohibit passengers from drinking alcohol they bring on board a plane.
In mid-January, the FAA adopted a tougher policy, with zero tolerance for passengers who cause a nuisance to flights or who do not comply with flight crew instructions in violation of FAA rules or is involved in conduct that is prohibited under federal law.
“The organization will engage in law enforcement action against any passenger who attacks, threatens, intimidates or obstructs aircrew members. This policy will be in effect through March 30, 2021, ”according to the organization.
Historically, the FAA has dealt with disruptive passenger incidents using a variety of methods ranging from warnings and counseling to civil penalties. The warning or counseling days are over – at least through the end of the month.
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