Rowdy or argumentative airline passengers could be stung with fines of up to $35,000 or jail time under tough new FAA rules.
Federal Aviation Administration chief Steve Dickson signed a new order detailing a ‘zero tolerance policy’ for disruptive flyers.
It comes as CBS News reports airlines themselves have banned more than 2,700 passengers over issues relating mostly to not wearing masks in the cabin.
Dickson said the agency will do away with issue warning letters or negotiate penalties and will ‘go straight for enforcement.’
"We’ve seen a disturbing increase in these incidents…. We’ll take the strongest possible enforcement action against any passenger who engages in it."
In some serious cases the FAA may propose criminal prosecutions through the Justice Department, and that could lead to prison sentences of up to 20 years.
Sara Nelson, President of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, applauded the new ‘first strike and you’re out’ policy.
Several airlines experienced incidents of unruly behavior on flights to and from Washington DC before and after a mob stormed the Capitol.
Written by Ray Montgomery
