During a flight from Alaska Airlines from Washington, DC to Seattle last week, a number of passengers refused to wear masks and harassed crew members, the airline said. In response, Alaska banned 14 of the passengers on that Thursday flight – only a growing number of disruptive passengers airlines compile their own non-flight lists. And now the Federal Aviation Administration has announced that it will in future take legal action against such conduct.
Alaska Airlines said in a statement that the passengers were ‘noisy’ and ‘argumentative’, saying that they had banned more than 300 passengers since August because they had violated its mask policy.
“Their behavior was unacceptable. Due to their actions and non-compliance, we banned 14 of the passengers from traveling with us in future,” the airline said. “We apologize to our other guests who were made uncomfortable on the flight. We will not tolerate any disruption on board our aircraft or at any of the airports we serve.”
CBS News has confirmed that the lists compiled by individual airlines – unlike the federal no-fly list, which aims to block suspected terrorists from the air – have hit more than 2,700 people. The flight ban has grown out of mask requirements put in place due to the coronavirus. Most flight bans last until the mask policy is suspended at the end of the pandemic.
Many of the bans came last week following the violent riot at the U.S. Capitol.
The order, signed by FAA administrator Steve Dickson on Wednesday, means riotous passengers will no longer receive a warning or counseling, which the agency said was customary in such incidents.
“The FAA has seen a disturbing increase in incidents where airline passengers have disrupted flights with threatening or violent behavior. These incidents stemmed from passengers’ refusal to wear masks and from recent violence at the US Capitol,” the FAA said in a statement. .
While American Airlines refused to disclose the number of banned customers, the airline did confirm that it had added customers to its internal garbage list of flights to and from DC in the past week, including a passenger refusing to wear a mask on a Sunday flight in a viral video.
“We are working closely with local law enforcement and airport partners to ensure the safety of our customers and team members on the ground and in the air,” the airline said in a statement Thursday. “We have also increased staff at airports in the Washington DC area and will not serve alcohol on flights to and from this area as a precaution. We will continue to maintain policies that safeguard the safety and well-being of our customers and team members. ensure.”
The Association of Professional Flight Waiters, the American union for flight attendants, said they have set up a hotline for members to report these meetings. According to them, CBS said last week that a member of the union is being harassed with racial labels while driving a hotel shuttle to Reagan National Airport. and another is plagued by passengers who refused to wear their masks while on board the plane.
A United Airlines spokesman said they had banned 60 people in the past week, and Alaska Airlines confirmed it was banning 32 people.
The Association of Flight Attendants CWA, which represents nearly 50,000 attendees from 17 airlines, including United and Alaska, calls the behavior “a new kind of threat in the air” in a communication with its members.
“The behavior of the mob mentality that took place on several flights to the DC area yesterday was unacceptable and threatened the safety and security of every person on board,” Sara Nelson, international president of the union, said in a statement last Wednesday. statement said.
“Some of the people who traveled in our planes yesterday took part in the uprising at the Capitol today,” she said. “Their violent and rebellious actions at the Capitol of today create further concern about their departure from the DC area. Acting against our democracy, our government and the freedom we claim as Americans must disqualify these individuals from the freedom of flight. “
Delta Airlines has removed two people from a flight from DC to Minneapolis-St. Paul on Friday, and an American Airlines pilot reprimanded passengers on a Friday flight for their riotous behavior.
The Federal Aviation Administration issued a reminder to passengers on Thursday about riotous behavior in the air and warned that it could lead to imprisonment and a $ 35,000 fine.
Airport disruptions have led authorities to increase security at airports and on-board aircraft, a government security source informed of the matter told CBS News – including additional airlines on flights to and from the three airports in the National Capitol region, and officers at the gates of flights to those airports.
The video, which was shared on social media in the wake of the riots, showed protesters at airports confronting Utah Senator Mitt Romney, a Republican who condemned the attacks and criticized President Trump; South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, also a Republican; and Representative Lou Correa, a California Democrat.
CBS News has confirmed airports across the country increase security and strengthen police presence in their terminals following the violence at the U.S. Capitol.
U.S. Capitol police are also paying attention to officers at Dulles International Airport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Baltimore-Washington International Airport to help guide oncoming and departing congressmen.
By the numbers
CBS News asked US airlines how many passengers have been banned since the implementation of mask requirements, and compiled the answers below. While two of the largest transport companies did not want to give numbers, the total is more than 2,700 people.
Alaska: 302
Allegiant: 15
American: refused to disclose
Delta: more than 700
Border: more than 500
Hawaiian: 56
JetBlue: 144
Spirit: 432
Southwest: refused to disclose
United: 615