More than 250 unruly passenger instances, together with allegations of assault and inappropriate touching, have been referred to the FBI since late 2021.
The referrals had been made beneath a partnership between the Federal Aviation Administration and the FBI to make sure unruly passengers face legal prosecution when warranted.
“The FBI will continue to work with our FAA partners to ensure the safety of all passengers and to combat violence aboard commercial flights,” stated FBI Assistant Director Luis Quesada.
“We remain committed to investigating all incidents that fall within FBI jurisdiction aboard commercial flights.”
According to the FAA, the speed of unruly passengers has dropped by over 80% since 2021, however unacceptable behaviour nonetheless continues.
Here is an inventory of incidents that came about in 2022 to 2023:
• In March 2023, a passenger tried to open a airplane door and use a makeshift weapon to assault a flight attendant
• January 2023, a passenger inappropriately touched a 17-year-old passenger
• January 2023, a passenger refused to stay seated, acted erratically and stated he wanted to fly the airplane
• January 2023, a passenger assaulted a feminine passenger
• January 2023, a passenger assaulted a flight attendant
• January 2023, a passenger sexually assaulted a passenger
• December 2022, a passenger sexually assaulted his spouse
• December 2022, a passenger assaulted flight attendants and one other passenger
• December 2022, a passenger assaulted, threatened and intimidated flight attendants
• December 2022, a passenger tried to strike a flight attendant and enter the flight dock
• December 2022, a passenger assaulted one other passenger
• December 2022, a passenger inappropriately touched one other passenger
• July 2022, a passenger threatened and intimidated flight attendants and passengers
• July 2022, a passenger sexually assaulted one other passenger
• July 2022, a passenger threatened flight attendants and a passenger
• April 2022, a passenger sexually assaulted a flight attendant
• April 2022, a passenger assaulted a flight attendant and passenger and likewise deployed the emergency evacuation slide
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‘Zero tolerance’
Acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen stated: “If you act out on a plane, you should just stay at home because we will come after you with serious consequences.
“We have zero tolerance for unruly behaviour.”
Last month, an “unruly” passenger was detained for allegedly opening an exit door on a airplane and triggering the exit slide earlier than leaping out.
In the identical month, one other allegedly attacked a flight attendant with a damaged metallic spoon and was heard threatening passengers on the airplane.
Content Source: information.sky.com