Strict, no-tolerance federal rules on airline behavior are meant to deter would-be violators from acting. Nevertheless, violations still frequently occur and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is now very publicly making an example out of four passengers whose onboard conduct subjected others to abuse and danger.
FAA Passenger Fines Disclosed For Poor Behavior Onboard
A press release from the FAA outlines civil penalties directed at four passengers who acted poorly onboard. Those include:
- $32,750 fine against a JetBlue passenger traveling from the Dominican Republic to New York on February 7, 2021. The passenger:
- refused to wear a face mask
- drank alcohol that had not been served onboard
- threw the empty bottle into the air (nearly hitting another passengers)
- threw food in the air
- cursed out flight attendants
- grabbed a flight attendants arm (causing pain)
- scratched another flight attendant
- $16,500 fine against a Southwest passenger traveling from Chicago to Sacramento on January 26, 2021. The passenger:
- refused to wear a face mask during boarding and when seated
- eventually, he placed the mask on under his nose
- when a flight attendant instructed him to wear his mask over his nose and mouth, he cursed her out
- on that basis, he was removed from the flight
- as he walked off the aircraft, he called each of the two flight attendants “pathetic,” and hit one of the flight attendants with his bags
- $9,000 fine against a Delta passenger traveling from Minneapolis to Philadelphia on December 22, 2020. The passenger:
- unbuckled her seat belt then got out of her seat during takeoff
- began walking up and down the aisle
- repeatedly said she wanted to get off the aircraft
- refused to follow “multiple” flight attendant instructions to return to her seat, forcing the plane to return to Minneapolis
- $9,000 fine against an Alaska Airlines passenger traveling from Bozeman to Seattle on January 30, 2021. The passenger:
- refused to wear a mask, prompting a diversion
Bottom line: obey reasonable flight attendant instructions and leave your mask on.
CONCLUSION
The FAA hopes that these passenger fines will deter other poor behavior onboard. Only time will tell, but these fines certainly constitute more than a slap on the wrist.
image: JetBlue
Hit ’em where it hurts.
I’m glad there are actual monetary repercussions for the people who act up.
They delay others and/or make everyone else suffer from their bad behaviors.
These are not mask related. These are stupid people that would behave this way anyway. I don’t think paying fines is enough. Put them in jail.
The real question is whether the government will ever collect anything from the fines?
I hope the fines make their way to the affected crew members, but somehow I doubt that’s happening.
Regarding that fine on Alaska… Assuming there weren’t any more relevant details that were omitted, is one passenger not wearing a mask a good enough reason to divert a 540 mile flight? Surely the crew’s ego was at play there.
Agreed.
I think a night in jail in addition to the fines is warranted in the cases of assaulting flight attendants.
I wonder if these fines will be collected or if these people are banned from flying in the future.
I hope they all end up on the “no more flights for you!” List as well. Like another commenter said, I hope they’re able to start collecting these fines.
People need to start acting like responsible people instead of idiots. Being disrespectful to others, be it your fellow passengers or crew isn’t acceptable behavior, period.
Good. As far as I’m concerned they are basically “hijacking” the airplane, making demands, the whole flight being diverted etc. Jail time should be thrown in too.
One suspects that these are Trumpist remnants; pity they couldn’t have been rounded up after January 6th and kept in detention centres.