2 passengers accused of biting, spitting on flight face biggest punishment ever

The US Federal Aviation Administration says the largest-ever fines for unruly passengers have been proposed for two travelers who were accused of assaulting a crew member last year. no Federal said.

A woman, whose identity has not been released, faces a civil fine of $81,950 after officials say she threatened a flight attendant who offered to help her after falling and trying to open the door. cabin door. The FAA said passengers hit, headbutted, bitten and spat on crew members, the FAA said in a statement.

The incident happened in July on an American Airlines flight from Dallas to Charlotte, NC, the agency said. The FAA said passengers could also face criminal prosecution.

Another woman is facing a $77,272 fine after attempting to hug and kiss another passenger, attempt to “escape during the flight” and bite a passenger multiple times, the FAA said. Officials said she was restricted on a Delta Air Lines flight from Las Vegas to Atlanta in July, also in July.

Before these proposed fines, the highest was $52,000 for an unidentified man who allegedly assaulted a flight attendant after he tried to open the cockpit door during a flight. Delta Air Lines flights from Honolulu to Seattle in 2020, FAA spokesman Donnell Evans said.

Since the start of the year, the agency has proposed nearly $2 million in fines, it said in Friday’s statement.

The FAA has struggled with an explosion of reports of unruly passengers since the start of the pandemic. About 65 percent breakdown is related to federal rules that require passengers to wear masks, according to FAA figures.

The agency said on Friday that since announcing more than a year ago its strict enforcement of unruly passengers, including a zero-tolerance policy, the number of cases has dropped by nearly 60 percent. .

The FAA notes that federal law prohibits acts of intimidation and interference with crew members.

Last year, FAA Calling on airports to limit alcohol serviceespecially in “cups to go”, citing information that travelers were intoxicated before and during boarding, an issue thought to be likely contributing to the unruly passenger phenomenon.

American Airlines is the last major airline to announce that it will be reintroducing In-flight alcohol service following such shutdowns by carriers at the start of the pandemic in 2020. The company’s services will resume on April 18, the federal mask expiration date.

Jay Blackman and Austin Mullen contribute.

at Blogtuan.info – Source: nbcnews.com – Read the original article here