Delta Passenger Faces $27,500 Fine After Striking Flight Attendant

Here’s an update to a story I wrote in October concerning a passenger who attacked a Delta flight attendant in a mask-related controversy. Four months later, the passenger now faces a $27,500 fine for her conduct.

A Seat Belt – Mask Incident On Delta Leads To Flight Attendant Assault

In yet another story showcasing disgustingly poor behavior onboard a commercial flight, an unmasked woman got into the face of a Delta flight attendant then slapped her. According to one eyewitness, the assault of a Delta flight attendant wasn’t even over masks. Rather, it was because the flight attendant had the audacity to tell the woman’s boyfriend to fasten his seat belt.

The incident occurred onboard Delta flight 1997 on Monday, October 19, 2020 from Miami to Atlanta onboard a Boeing 767-300. A pair of travelers caused the trouble, according to witnesses onboard. He refused to wear a seat belt, put up his tray table, or wear a mask and she refused to put on her mask. When the flight returned to the gate and the passengers were asked to voluntarily disembark, the conflict escalated further. She got in the face of the flight attendant and warned, “I’m gonna knock your ass out,” to a flight attendant trying to seek compliance.

Oh, the poor flight attendant.

Watch:

Here’s what happened on our @delta flight from #Miami to #Atlanta tonight after a passenger refused to wear a mask as per policy and then gets into altercation with flight attendant. Video via @kingcoreythefirst on IG pic.twitter.com/TBBYq1VCBb

— Suzanne Kianpour (@KianpourWorld) October 20, 2020

Passenger Now Faces $27,500 Fine From DOT

The unnamed passenger now faces a $27,500 civil fine for her conduct onboard.

The FAA is strictly enforcing a zero-tolerance policy toward passengers who cause disturbances on flights or fail to obey flight crew instructions in violation of the FAA’s regulations or engage in conduct proscribed by federal law.

Now the passenger has 30 days to respond to the agency.

CONCLUSION

I hope this well-deserved $27,500 fine will serve as a deterrent to others. Such behavior onboard is simply intolerable, no matter the context. The passenger should be thankful her fine is limited to a civil penalty.