US: FAA chief issues stern warning to travelers after politically motivated flight disruptions

The head of the FAA Saturday said travelers will face serious consequences for unruly behavior on aircraft, a stern warning that comes after several on-board incidents in the past week involving pro-Trump chanting and passengers’ refusal to wear masks, a requirement to fly on US airlines. “The FAA will pursue strong enforcement action against anyone who endangers the safety of a flight, with penalties ranging from monetary fines to jail time,” FAA Administrator Steve Dickson said. Unruly passengers can face fines of up to $35,000. Alaska Airlines on Friday said it banned 14 passengers on a Washington DC-Seattle flight. The travelers “were non-mask compliant, rowdy, argumentative and harassed our crew members. Their behavior was unacceptable,” said an Alaska Airlines spokesman. “We apologize to our other guests who were made uncomfortable on the flight. Videos of several incidents were shared on social media. An American Airlines pilot on a Washington-to-Phoenix flight warned travelers he would “put this plane down and dump people off in the middle of Kansas” to convince passengers to “behave” on board. “At American, we take the safety of our customers seriously and we value the trust they place in our team to care for them throughout their journey,” American said. The pilot made an announcement emphasizing the importance of following crew member instructions and complying with mandatory face-covering policies.” “I expect all passengers to follow crew member instructions, which are in place for their safety and the safety of flight,” said Dickson. “The FAA monitors and tracks all commercial passenger flights in real time, and reporting mechanisms are in place for crew members to identify any number of safety and security concerns that may arise in flight.” Dickson said unruly behavior can distract crews and threaten crewmembers’ ability to perform safety-related duties.<br/>