FAA fines for unruly passengers this year surge past $500,000

The wave of air rage as US airlines attempt to return to normalcy while the pandemic subsides has reached unprecedented levels, according to data released Tuesday. So far this year, the FAA has proposed $563,800 in fines against at least 60 people for violations ranging from striking flight attendants to repeatedly refusing to don protective face masks, the agency said. That includes $124,500 in penalties against eight people announced Tuesday. “The FAA is strictly enforcing a zero-tolerance policy toward passengers who cause disturbances on flights or fail to obey flight crew instructions in violation of the FAA’s regulations or engage in conduct proscribed by federal law,” the agency said. The FAA has initiated 487 enforcement cases this year through Sunday, far exceeding the previous high for an entire year, 305 in 2004, the agency said. Of the 3,082 reports of unruly passengers in 2021 received by the FAA, 2,350 or 76% were related to face masks.<br/>