FAA says it has sent 250 cases of unruly passengers to FBI

Federal officials said Thursday they have referred more than 250 unruly airline passengers to the FBI for possible criminal prosecution since late 2021, including one as recently as last month, when a man tried to stab a flight attendant with a broken-off spoon. The pace of the criminal referrals is slowing, however. The FAA identified 17 cases it has sent to the FBI in the first three months of this year — mostly for incidents that happened last year but took time to investigate. Airlines have reported fewer cases of unruly passengers since last April, when a federal judge struck down a requirement that people wear masks on planes and public transportation. Before that ruling, about two-thirds of all incidents on planes involved disputes over masks. The FAA can levy civil fines but lacks authority to file criminal charges, so it asks the FBI to step in for the most serious cases. “If you act out on a plane, you should just stay at home because we will come after you with serious consequences,” acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen said in a statement. “We have zero tolerance for unruly behavior.” The FBI did not say how often it acts on the FAA referrals. Assistant Director Luis Quesada said the bureau is “committed to investigating all incidents that fall within FBI jurisdiction aboard commercial flights,” but did not provide numbers.<br/>