US vows tough line on criminal flight disruptions, not backing no-fly list

The US Justice Department on Tuesday said it is "fully committed" to holding disruptive airline passengers who violate federal law accountable, but did not endorse Delta's request to add convicted passengers to a government no-fly list. Delta CE Ed Bastian, in a letter first reported on Friday by Reuters, asked US Attorney General Merrick Garland to place passengers convicted of on-board disruptions on a national "no-fly" list that would bar them from future travel on any commercial airline. Bastian said the action would "help prevent future incidents and serve as a strong symbol of the consequences of not complying with crew member instructions on commercial aircraft." Justice Department spokesman Joshua Stueve said on Tuesday the department "is continuing to prioritize the investigations and prosecutions of those who engage in criminal behavior that threatens the safety of passengers, flight crews, and flight attendants." The Justice Department "will be referring Delta's letter to appropriate departments," Stueve added.<br/>