A flight attendant collects garbage on a flight aboard a Boeing 737 Max from Dallas Fort Worth Airport to Tulsa, Oklahoma, December 2, 2020.
Carlo Allegri | Reuters
The head of the Federal Aviation Administration on Saturday said travelers will face serious consequences for unruly aircraft behavior, a severe warning that comes after several on-board incidents last week involving pro-Trump chants and passengers’ refusal to wear masks. requirement to fly on US airlines.
“The FAA will seek strong coercive action against anyone who jeopardizes the safety of a flight, with penalties ranging from monetary fines to imprisonment,” FAA administrator Steve Dickson said in a statement.
Undisciplined passengers can face fines of up to $ 35,000.
Alaska Airlines said on Friday it had banned 14 passengers on a Washington DC-Seattle flight. The travelers “did not obey the mask, were turbulent, fought and chased members of our crew. Their behavior was unacceptable,” said Alaska Airlines spokesman Ray Lane. “We apologize to our other guests who were uncomfortable on the flight.
Videos of various incidents were shared on social media. An American Airlines pilot on a Washington-Phoenix flight warned travelers that he “would put this plane on the ground and throw people in the middle of Kansas” to convince passengers to “behave” on board.
“At American, we take the safety of our customers seriously and value the trust they place in our staff to care for them throughout the journey,” said American in a statement. The pilot made an announcement emphasizing the importance of following instructions from crew members and complying with mandatory facial coverage policies. “
Earlier this week, some passengers shouted “traitor” on a Delta Air Lines flight that carried Republican Senator Mitt Romney of Utah. Delta said its “crew got involved quickly and solved the problem”.
On another flight this week, American Airlines flight attendants turned on the lights and ordered passengers to sit down after passengers shouted and cursed each other, according to a video shared by Twitter user @MaranieRae, who said that was on the flight.
“I hope all passengers will follow the instructions of the crew members, who are in place for their safety and the safety of the flight,” said Dickson. “The FAA monitors and tracks all commercial passenger flights in real time, and reporting mechanisms are available to crew members to identify any number of safety and security concerns that may arise during the flight.”
Dickson said that undisciplined behavior can distract crews and threaten the ability of crew members to perform safety-related tasks.
Dickson’s remarks came after flight attendant unions raised security issues this week about politically motivated flight disruptions after a pro-Trump crowd stormed the U.S. Capitol building, demanding that the results of the presidential election be nullified.
“The mafia behavior that occurred on multiple flights to the DC area yesterday was unacceptable and threatened the safety of every person on board,” Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, which represents about 50,000 cabin crew members United, Alaska and more than a dozen other operators, they said Wednesday.
Airlines took precautions before and after the politically motivated rebellion on Capitol Hill, transferring crews to hotels at airports. American Airlines has suspended alcohol service on flights from Washington DC.
“We must work harder to keep the problems on the ground,” the AFA told flight attendants after the FAA’s warning on Saturday. “Ensure strict compliance with the mask before resistance. Work as a crew, communicate and take your concerns to the cockpit and supervisors.”