FAA says fines against unruly passengers in 2021 now over $1 million

Aug. 19 (UPI) -- A stark rise in unruly passengers on flights in the United States this year, over various reasons, has resulted in fines totaling more than $1 million, and counting.

The Federal Aviation Administration said Thursday that the civil penalties were levied against close to 4,000 unruly passengers since January.

In its announcement, the agency said the total includes $531,500 in fines against 34 passengers in particular.

"Today's fines are part of the agency's Zero Tolerance campaign against unruly passenger behavior," the FAA said in a statement.

"Since Jan. 1, 2021, the FAA has received approximately 3,889 reports of unruly behavior by passengers, including about 2,867 reports of passengers refusing to comply with the federal face mask mandate."

Other unruly passengers early this year and in late 2020 were political in nature and typically involved supporters of former President Donald Trump.

Reasons for the fines have varied and include passengers threatening to kill each other, arguing with family members or flight attendants, vaping, drinking prohibited alcohol, smoking and assault, the FAA said.

The largest single fine was $45,000 given to a passenger on a flight in May from New York City to Florida who threw items at other travelers, refused to stay seated and put his head up a flight attendant's dress.

The FAA said a $42,000 fine was given to another passenger on a flight to San Francisco, for "interfering with crewmembers after failing to comply with the facemask mandate; making non-consensual physical contact with another passenger; throwing a playing card at a passenger and threatening him with physical harm; making stabbing gestures towards certain passengers; and snorting what appeared to be cocaine from a plastic bag."

Another passenger who was removed from a flight in February said, "I hope this plane [expletive] crashes."

Thursday's announcement came two days after the Transportation Security Administration extended its national mask requirement for passengers on all U.S. commercial flights until at least January.

The FAA said fined passengers have 30 days to respond to their penalty.