Although the FAA has shied away from issuing a federal mandate that face masks be worn on flights, it is now talking action.
The agency is seeking civil fines of $15,000 and $7,500 against two airline passengers who roughed up flight attendants during separate altercations over refusing to wear masks.
The incidents took place on an Allegiant Air flight to St. Louis and a SkyWest flight to Chicago respectively.
The larger fine is targeted at a passenger who repeatedly cursed at a flight attendant and then then hit him and grabbed his phone.
It forced the pilot to divert the flight.
Both incidents happened in August.
Airline unions have repeatedly called on the FAA to make the wearing of face masks mandatory but it has refused to do so, saying it should be left up to airlines.
Airlines have since banned more than 1,000 passengers for failing to wear masks when in the cabin, which has led to numerous flight delays.
Written by Ray Montgomery, US Editor
