FAA extends zero tolerance policy for riotous passengers

Flight attendants demonstrate safety measures on an American Airlines Boeing 737 MAX aircraft before taking off on December 2, 2020 on a test flight from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport in Dallas, Texas.

Juliette Michel | AFP | Getty Images

The Federal Aviation Administration said Monday that the irregular passengers will continue to expand the zero tolerance policy it introduced in January. According to the agency, airlines have reported more than 500 cases since the end of December.

Most of the cases relate to travelers who refused to wear face masks, which require both airlines and the federal government for commercial air travel, the FAA said.

“I have decided to extend the FAA’s zero – tolerance policy for passengers as we continue to do everything in our power to confront the pandemic,” FAA Administrator Steve Dickson said in a statement. “The policy requires that our security inspectors and advocates take strict enforcement action against any passenger who disrupts or threatens the safety of a flight, with fines ranging from fines to imprisonment. The number of cases we see is still too high, and it tells us that urgent action is still needed. ‘

The FAA will at least maintain its zero tolerance policy as long as the federal mask mandate is in force.

According to federal data, the number of rioting passengers has increased on a per capita basis throughout 2020. Trade unions have raised concerns about safety over rioting travelers, especially after the January 6 riot at the Capitol.

“Administrator Dickson’s strong stand in January for no tolerance supported us and it is not now time to let our guard down,” said Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, who said about 50,000 members of the cabin crew represented at more than a dozen airlines.

“The patchwork, politically skewed discussion around masks has created confusion and conflict,” she said in a statement. “We do not have time to disregard the federal mask mandate. On an airplane, this behavior endangers everyone and we cannot stand it.”

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