Passenger assaulted flight attendant and tried to open plane door

More than 250 unruly passenger cases, including allegations of assault and inappropriate touching, have been referred to the FBI since late 2021.

The referrals were made under a partnership between the Federal Aviation Administration and the FBI to ensure unruly passengers face criminal prosecution when warranted.

“The FBI will continue to work with our FAA partners to ensure the safety of all passengers and to combat violence aboard commercial flights,” said FBI Assistant Director Luis Quesada.

“We remain committed to investigating all incidents that fall within FBI jurisdiction aboard commercial flights.”

According to the FAA, the rate of unruly passengers has dropped by over 80% since 2021, but unacceptable behaviour still continues.

Here is a list of incidents that took place in 2022 to 2023:

• In March 2023, a passenger tried to open a plane door and use a makeshift weapon to assault a flight attendant
• January 2023, a passenger inappropriately touched a 17-year-old passenger
• January 2023, a passenger refused to remain seated, acted erratically and said he needed to fly the plane
• January 2023, a passenger assaulted a female passenger
• January 2023, a passenger assaulted a flight attendant
• January 2023, a passenger sexually assaulted a passenger
• December 2022, a passenger sexually assaulted his wife
• December 2022, a passenger assaulted flight attendants and another passenger
• December 2022, a passenger assaulted, threatened and intimidated flight attendants
• December 2022, a passenger tried to strike a flight attendant and enter the flight dock
• December 2022, a passenger assaulted another passenger
• December 2022, a passenger inappropriately touched another passenger
• July 2022, a passenger threatened and intimidated flight attendants and passengers
• July 2022, a passenger sexually assaulted another passenger
• July 2022, a passenger threatened flight attendants and a passenger
• April 2022, a passenger sexually assaulted a flight attendant
• April 2022, a passenger assaulted a flight attendant and passenger and also deployed the emergency evacuation slide

‘Zero tolerance’

Acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen said: “If you act out on a plane, you should just stay at home because we will come after you with serious consequences.

“We have zero tolerance for unruly behaviour.”

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Last month, an “unruly” passenger was detained for allegedly opening an exit door on a plane and triggering the exit slide before jumping out.

In the same month, another allegedly attacked a flight attendant with a broken metal spoon and was heard threatening passengers on the plane.

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