The Federal Aviation Administration is cracking down on unruly airline passenger behavior. In a tweet on Thursday, the FAA said it is referring its most extreme cases of in-flight disruptions to the FBI for potential prosecution.
So far 37 incidents out of 227 initiated enforcement cases have been sent to the FBI, according to the Associated Press. The FAA hasn't indicated how many of the referrals have led to charges. The agency didn't immediately respond to CNET's request for comment.
The FAA, which has civil authority, can propose fines on passengers of up to $37,000 per violation in the case of unruly passenger behavior. The FBI plans to handle criminal charges, which the FAA states is "a priority for both agencies."
Warning for unruly airline passengers! We are referring the most egregious cases to the @FBI for federal criminal prosecution consideration. This is a priority for both agencies. Learn more at https://t.co/ISiblzAzGi. @TheJusticeDept #FlySmart pic.twitter.com/hVroWfXEMa
— The FAA ✈️ (@FAANews) November 4, 2021
There have been over 5,000 unruly airline passenger reports in 2021 so far and over 3,500 mask-related incidents, according to the FAA. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's federal mask order applies to passengers and staff "when boarding, disembarking, and for the duration of travel" at any transportation hub in the United States, according to the US Department of Transportation's website.
Earlier this week, an American Airlines passenger was reportedly charged after punching a flight attendant in the face during a flight from New York to California. He currently faces up to 20 years in prison for assault and interference with a flight crew.
