US FAA wants airlines to do more to address unruly passengers

The FAA Tuesday urged US passenger airlines “to commit to take more action” to address reports of violent or unruly passengers. The agency said it had asked airline trade groups at a meeting on Tuesday to disclose within a week what steps they will take to curb such incidents. The FAA said the industry is facing a record number of airline passenger disturbances, and it plans to soon hold similar meetings with representatives from airports and labor. The meeting with groups, including Airlines for America, a group representing American Airlines, Delta, United and others, discussed “ways the industry can work together to reduce the number of unruly passenger incidents,” the FAA said, adding it “believes additional action by the airlines and all aviation stakeholders is necessary to stop the unsafe behavior.” On Monday, two senior US Senate Democrats urged Attorney General Merrick Garland here on Monday to prosecute unruly air passengers. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin and Commerce Committee chair Maria Cantwell said “civil penalties alone are failing to deter criminal activity by airline passengers.” <br/>