ATLANTA — The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration has released its report into the number of airline passengers in trouble for alleged unruly behavior so far this year.
Since Jan. 1, the FAA has received 3,889 reports of unruly behavior by passengers, including about 2,867 reports of passengers refusing to comply with the federal facemask mandate.
The total amount of penalties for the unruly behavior has reached more than $1 million.
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Several of the cases involve passengers on flights to or from Atlanta.
A passenger was fined $30,000 for an incident involving a Frontier Airlines flight from Atlanta to New York, N.Y., on Jan. 3, 2021. The passenger was allegedly interfering with the flight attendants’ deplaning procedures upon arrival. The FAA said he attempted to gain entry to the flight deck by physically assaulting two flight attendants, threatening to kill one of them, and demanding them to open the door. The captain called for law enforcement to meet him after exiting.
On April 2, a passenger on an Endeavor Airlines flight from Atlanta to Jackson, Miss., allegedly interfered with flight crewmembers after refusing to comply with the facemask mandate. Authorities said he was also combative with flight attendants after walking to the lavatory while the fastened seatbelt sign was on. He was fined $10,500.
Another passenger was fined $9,000 for an incident on an Endeavor Airlines flight from Atlanta to Gainesville, Fla., on March 26. The FAA said he interfered with crewmembers after failing to comply with the mask mandate. Ground personnel escorted him off the flight after returning to the gate.
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In June, Channel 2 Action News reported on a scary incident on a Delta flight from Los Angeles to Atlanta after a man became unruly and assaulted two flight attendants while threatening to take down the plane.
Authorities said the passenger was “exhibiting signs of mental health issues” and was taken into custody after the plane diverted to Oklahoma City.
All travelers are required by federal law to wear masks on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States. Masks are also required in U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations.
The passengers have 30 days after receiving the FAA’s enforcement letter to respond to the agency. The FAA does not identify individuals against whom it proposes civil penalties.
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