FAA Refers Violent Passengers to DOJ for Prosecution
November 5, 2021 – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced Thursday it has referred more than three dozen unruly passengers to the FBI for potential criminal prosecution amid a sharp rise in onboard incidents.
The FAA and the Justice Department (DOJ) have established an information-sharing protocol for the FAA to refer unruly passenger cases to the FBI for review and faster prosecution.
"FAA Administrator Steve Dickson and the entire agency have been relentless about communicating the seriousness of air rage incidents, working with airlines, airports and unions to push for solutions that remove these threats, distractions, and serious safety concerns from aviation,” said Sara Nelson, AFA International President. “Expeditiously referring the most violent, physical assaults against crewmembers and passengers to the Department of Justice for public prosecution is the most effective way to deter bad actors and put a stop to the spike in disruptive passengers. We applaud this move and call on the Justice Department to take swift action.” Read our full statement >
Related: House Democrats urge Justice Dept. to prosecute unruly airline passengers >
Elsewhere on Capitol Hill: Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) urges FAA to implement 10 hours minimum rest for Flight Attendants >
