US: Flight attendants play ‘babysitter for adults’ as bad behavior onboard spikes; FAA threatens hefty fines

Tensions are rising in air travel, prompting safety concerns as airlines continue to reel from the coronavirus pandemic’s impact. In the wake of the deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol and a spate of disruptions on board, airlines and the FAA promised zero tolerance for bad behavior. Airlines, airports and the TSA are adding staff and increasing security measures ahead of President-Elect Joe Biden’s inauguration on Wednesday. “As if aviation needs any more kicks to the head right now,” Jeff Price, an aviation safety specialist and professor at Metropolitan State University of Denver, said of the trend. Delta banned six travelers from a Jan. 5 flight from Salt Lake City to Washington, DC. Several passengers shouted “traitor” at Utah Republican Sen. Mitt Romney for not challenging the results of the November presidential election, according to a video of the incident that was shared on social media. On Jan. 8, Alaska Airlines said it banned 14 travelers who were “non-mask compliant, rowdy, argumentative and harassed our crew members” from a Washington, D.C.-Seattle flight, spokesman Ray Lane said, apologizing to other passengers who were uncomfortable on the flight. Delta CEO Ed Bastian last week said such incidents are extremely rare and that most of its customers don’t pose a problem, but the carrier warned it won’t accept disruptive behavior. “Those who refuse to display basic civility to our people or their fellow travelers are not welcome on Delta,” Bastian said in an employee memo Friday. “Their actions will not be tolerated, and they will not have the privilege of flying our airline ever again.”<br/>