The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said there had been “a disturbing increase in incidents where airline passengers have disrupted flights with threatening or violent behavior. These incidents have stemmed both from passengers’ refusals to wear masks and from recent violence at the US Capitol.”The FAA said under an order signed by Administrator Stephen Dickson, unruly passengers would no longer get warnings. Penalties can includes fines up to $35,000 and jail terms for passengers who assault or threaten airline crews or other passengers. We applaud FAA Administrator Dickson for taking this clear stand for our safety and security,” Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants, said in a statement. “This will help serve as a deterrent to unruly passengers who had been bucking the rules of aviation safety.” The FAA said it has pursued more than 1,300 enforcement actions against passengers in the past 10 years.

Source: Manila Times January 14, 2021 16:19 UTC