- The U.S. government will continue to enforce its “zero tolerance policy” of unruly air passengers.
- The policy was put in place in January after hundreds of reports were received of passengers behaving inappropriately aboard airplanes.
- FAA Administrator Steve Dickson said he will extend the policy, “as we continue to do everything we can to confront the pandemic.”
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The U.S. government will continue to enforce its “zero tolerance policy” for unruly air passengers.
The policy was put in place in January after hundreds of reports were received of passengers behaving inappropriately aboard airplanes.
In a statement released Monday, FAA Administrator Steve Dickson said he will extend the policy, due to expire March 30, “as we continue to do everything we can to confront the pandemic.”
“The number of cases we’re seeing is still far too high, and it tells us urgent action continues to be required,” he said.
FAA spokesmen said the policy would continue at least as long as mandatory face masks are required aboard airplanes.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued the mandate in January requiring face masks be worn aboard planes.
To date, the FAA said more than 500 unruly passenger cases have been submitted by airlines to the FAA.
It was noted that the majority of the complaints dealt with passengers refusing to wear face masks.
In recent months, U.S. airlines have banned hundreds of passengers from future flights because of their behaviors.
Delta Air Lines said last month that some 950 passengers have been banned because of their refusal to wear face masks, along with other behavior problems.
Dickson also warned that passengers found to be disruptive face up to a $3,000 fine and even jail time.
