Imagine you’re on a flight from the middle of the U.S. to the eastern seaboard when one passenger goes a little cray-cray. Perhaps extreme anxiety or perhaps too much alcohol. It didn’t help that the airline had delayed the flight for three hours before taking off.
Reportedly, the commotion began when a woman fell out of her seat and into the aisle. A flight attendant tried to help the female passenger get up. The woman pushed the flight attendant away and made for the door, pounded on it saying, “I need to get off this plane.” Then she attempted to open the forward boarding door. (Everyone’s nightmare!)
The pilot asked everyone to stay seated. The flight attendants got flex cuffs on the woman. While restrained, she spit at the crew, head butt, bit, and kick at them. In the end, the crew duct tapped her to her seat and covered her mouth.
Law enforcement waited for the plane to land, removed the woman, took her to a hospital and then arrested her. Federal law prohibits interfering with the crew in any way. The FFA fined the woman over $81,000 and no doubt banned her from flying.
Here’s another…. Again, a woman, flying from coast-to-coast in the U.S. tried to hug and kiss another passenger. That alone may not have landed her in hot water (did you catch the pun?). When she also attempted to exit the plane mid-flight and then bit another passenger, she crossed the line. Authorities removed her from the plane and the FFA fined her over $77,000 and again, I’m sure they banned her from flying, at least on that airline. #unrulypassenger
The U.S. Transportation Secretary said,
“If you are on a plane, don’t be a jerk and don’t endanger the flight crew and fellow passengers. If you do, you will be fined by the FAA.”
Some of the most common violations on flights:
· Verbal abuse
· Intoxication
· Refusing to wear seat belt
· Bringing alcohol on board
· Refusing to wear a mask when the airline mandated mask-wearing
Source: Federal Aviation Administration, People, New York Post, The Los Angeles Times