FBI to weigh prosecuting 37 unruly passengers amid uptick of incidents on planes

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

The Federal Aviation Administration announced Thursday that it has referred the cases of more than three dozen unruly passengers to the FBI for potential criminal prosecution in hopes of curbing a sharp uptick in people acting violently on planes this year.

“Let this serve both as a warning and a deterrent: If you disrupt a flight, you risk not just fines from the FAA but federal criminal prosecution as well,” FAA Administrator Stephen Dickson said Thursday in a news release.

In August, the FAA and the Justice Department began developing an information-sharing protocol to refer the most serious cases to the FBI for further review and faster prosecution, the agencies said in a joint statement.

The step comes as U.S. airlines grapple with an increase in disruptive or violent incidents on board flights — many involving hostile passengers protesting mask mandates as travel goes back to pre-pandemic levels.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2021/11/04/faa-refers-unruly-passengers-fbi/

[msongs]

1. jail time then no fly. flight disruption is life threatening nt

[LuckyCharms]

6. This is the correct answer.

[lagomorph777]

9. Yup. How hard is that?

[Bobstandard]

2. Another set of slaps on the wrist?

Capitol insurrectionists have gotten sentences shorter than recovery for those they injured, fines less than a fair share of repair costs. Will airline disrupters and assaultors get off as easily?

[Enter stage left]

3. C'mon Feds...

5 years in prison (no parole), $100,000 fine, lifetime ban on public transportation.

Quit fucking around, make it HURT!

[ProfessorGAC]

12. Exactly My Thought

Your title was the first thing that came to mind.
It's a federal felony to interfere with flight operations or crew.
Some of these incidents escalated to assault& battery.
There's nothing to consider.

[hlthe2b]

5. Years ago, I was seated between two women who were angry at each other before they boarded.

I don't know if they were a couple, or sisters, friends, work colleagues, or what, but not long after being seated it escalated and with me in the middle, one tried to strike the other. Of course, the one woman missed her target and I got it, HARD against my jaw. While the flight attendants were great and forced one woman to reseat the back of the plane and sat me in first class with an ice bag the rest of the flight, I was never offered the option of pressing charges. Because the flight staff tried so hard to be responsive to me, I just decided to let this go.

I have hated flying ever since and cannot believe how much violence has since escalated. I'm glad DOJ is stepping in. These people should never be allowed to fly again.

[CrackityJones75]

7. what is there to weigh?

[LuckyCharms]

8. To me, it's quite simple.

If passing a counterfeit $20 bill (unknowingly probably) can get someone a tortuous, frightening and painful death here in the Good old US of A...

And selling loose Cigarettes on a NYC street can get you "death by choke hold"...

It should be a no brainer to (gasp!) FUCKING PROSECUTE (Oh my!!!) some fucking idiot who messes with people having no means of escape in what basically is a large tin can 30,000 feet above the ground.

FBI is going to weigh this?

Oh, that's nice.

WEIGH?

How about this statement instead of "weigh"? THE FBI WILL AGGRESSIVELY AND RELENTLESSLY PROSECUTE UNRULY DISPUTERS ON AN AIRCRAFT, AND IF CONVICTED, WILL RECOMMEND PUNISHMENT TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PROVIDED BY LAW.

[lagomorph777]

10. Wray, go away. Garland's gotta go.

Enough of this nonsense. Right-wing terrorists and thugs have to be prosecuted as such. ENOUGH!

[Hortensis]

11. The FBI would be investigating to see if cases can be developed.

Just checked and the FAA doesn't prosecute either, can only assess fines. So results of investigations would be referred to the DoJ to weigh prosecuting.

Those who insist nothing will happen should remember that our airlines are kind of an important piece in the national machinery. If major execs are saying said publicly that this problem has become too big, and potentially dangerous, for them to it allow to continue, what are they saying to the DoJ and others in government?

And of course, with the increased focus on explosive growth of potential DVE, our security services are already working even more with the airlines than they always were. Passenger liners are extremely obvious targets.

[lindysalsagal]

13. The more common crime is flights sitting on tarmacs for hours

I'd like to be able to board a plane knowing I wasn't getting locked up.