Unruly passenger incidents rising again, FAA data shows:
FAA figures released Tuesday show more disruptions on commercial flights in the past week than any week in the past two and a half months.
The FAA says there were 128 new incidents reported by flight crews, bringing this year's total to 4,626 incidents. The new number is the highest weekly figure since the FAA started releasing weekly data on July 20.
About 72% of issues in the past week were over the federal transportation mask mandate, figures show.
[...] The agency has proposed more than $1 million in fines against unruly airline passengers this year.
One $45,000 fine announced in August was against a passenger accused of throwing his luggage at another passenger and, while lying on the aisle floor, "grabbing a flight attendant by the ankles and putting his head up her skirt."
Another passenger would not wear his face mask, the FAA, said, and "acted as though his hand was a gun and made a 'pew, pew' noise as if he was shooting a fellow passenger."
[...] Pekoske said 110 TSA officers have been assaulted this year.
Lots Of Talk About A Crackdown On America’s Air Rage Epidemic—But Not Enough Action:
Among the most egregious incidents: Last December, a Delta Air Lines passenger tried to open the cockpit door mid-flight and struck a flight attendant in the face before being restrained by crew members and a fellow passenger. On an Alaska Airlines flight in March, a Colorado man who refused to wear a face mask swatted at a flight attendant, then stood up and urinated in his seat area. In May, a Southwest Airlines passenger punched out a flight attendant’s teeth after being told to keep her seat belt fastened.
[...] The threat of four- and five-figure fines has not tamped down unruly behavior on planes. “Civil penalties alone are failing to deter criminal activity by airline passengers,” [...]
[...] The airline industry, meanwhile, says this is a job for the Department of Justice. “We believe that the United States Government is well equipped to prosecute unruly and disruptive onboard behavior,” [...]
What, if anything, should be done, or could improve the situation?
(Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Friday October 08 2021, @03:54AM (7 children)
You are right. Nobody should fly. Drive instead and see the country.
Vote with your feet and your dollars. If a mode of travel or a system demands obedience, don't support it by going along with it.
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 3, Touché) by Mykl on Friday October 08 2021, @05:09AM
Sounds like a win-win
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday October 08 2021, @05:27AM
If only all the trash took itself out.
(Score: 2) by dry on Friday October 08 2021, @05:47AM (4 children)
Err, driving requires way more obedience then a mask mandate.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday October 08 2021, @11:19AM (3 children)
You mean you can't bring your own beverages with you in your car?
You must pass through an X-Ray scatter machine before entering your car?
You're not allowed to open the windows in your car?
You must check-in at your parking space 2 hours before your planned departure, then wait 1.5 hours before entering the vehicle?
Your car will only let you drive from city center to city center, then you must transfer to another mode of transportation to get to your destination?
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Friday October 08 2021, @01:19PM
Strawman. Driving has tons of requirements, laws, restrictions, etc
You have to pass a test and posses a valid drivers license
You have to have a registered (and often tested) vehicle
You have to have valid, paid for insurance on that vehicle
You have to obey speed limits
You have to wear a seat belt
You have to follow traffic rules
You cannot drink alcohol (maybe in ND/SD, but otherwise ;-)
etc, etc, etc
(Score: 2) by dry on Friday October 08 2021, @11:05PM (1 child)
You can be thrown in jail here for bringing your own alcoholic beverages in your car here. Non-alcoholic beverages are simply a big fine and points (higher insurance) with perhaps your vehicle impounded. Distracted driving is the charge, mostly aimed at having your cell phone handy but covering a lot of stuff from eating and drinking while driving to fiddling with the radio.
Your other examples are stupid considering the other laws covering driving.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday October 09 2021, @04:03AM
I don't live in your Nazi province, so those driving rules are not my problem.
I think I'll have an ice cold drink while I enjoy the drive, sold to me straight from the DRIVE THRU WINDOW.