It pays to wear a mask – or, in those cases, you can pay not to wear one.
The Federal Aviation Administration is proposing civil penalties of $ 20,000 and $ 12,500 for two passengers on separate JetBlue Airlines flights in December that refused to obey the flight attendants’ instructions.
The first passenger was flying from Boston to Puerto Rico on December 27. After a steward repeatedly said to put on a mask, the woman pushed the steward over her shoulders and chest, shouted obscenities and threatened to fire her, according to the FAA.
The FAA is proposing fines for two passengers on separate JetBlue Airlines flights in December that refused to obey the instructions of flight attendants.
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The captain had to divert the flight back to Boston because of the woman’s unruly behavior. Now, the woman faces a $ 20,000 fine.
A few days later, on December 31, a man on a JetBlue flight from New York to the Dominican Republic also refused to wear a mask and stop drinking from a prohibited personal bottle of alcohol, despite repeated instructions from a commissioner, according to the FAA. The crew even issued the man a formal “notification to cease questionable behavior” card, but he responded by shouting profanity at them, hitting the upper bins and becoming even less cooperative, officials said.
While the plane landed and taxied to the gate, the man got up, threw the bottle of alcohol and went to the bathroom, according to the FAA. The flight crew made the police find the plane at the gate. The man faces a $ 12,250 fine.
Interfering with the aircraft’s crew, as well as threatening or assaulting it or anyone else on the aircraft, is a violation of federal law.
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A jetBlue spokesman told Fox News: “We respect the FAA’s enforcement of these serious safety and regulatory violations and appreciate their support for crew members who are working to maintain a safe and comfortable environment on board during this difficult period.”
Interfering with the aircraft’s crew, as well as threatening or assaulting it or anyone else on the aircraft, is a violation of federal law. Penalties for breaking these laws can include civil or criminal fines and even imprisonment.
Last month, a federal mask mandate for people at airports and airplanes also came into effect, in addition to the policies that airlines already had in place.
On Wednesday, FAA administrator Steve Dickson said the agency was extending its zero-tolerance policy to undisciplined passengers because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
FAA administrator Steve Dickson said the agency was extending its zero-tolerance policy to undisciplined passengers because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. (Graeme Jennings / Pool via AP)
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“The policy directs our security inspectors and lawyers to take severe enforcement measures against any passenger who interrupts or threatens the safety of a flight, with penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment,” Dickson said in a written statement. “The number of cases we are seeing is still very high and that tells us that urgent action is still needed.”
A California man was recently ordered to pay nearly $ 50,000 in restitution for attacking a United Airlines flight attendant and forcing the Los Angeles-Tokyo flight to divert to Alaska in February 2020.
Passengers facing the proposed penalties will have 30 days to respond.