Federal officers stated Thursday they’ve referred greater than 250 unruly airline passengers to the FBI for doable legal prosecution since late 2021, together with one as lately as final month, when a person tried to stab a flight attendant with a broken-off spoon.
The tempo of the legal referrals is slowing, nonetheless. The Federal Aviation Administration recognized 17 instances it has despatched to the FBI within the first three months of this 12 months — largely for incidents that occurred final 12 months however took time to research.
Airlines have reported fewer instances of unruly passengers since final April, when a federal decide struck down a requirement that folks put on masks on planes and public transportation. Before that ruling, about two-thirds of all incidents on planes concerned disputes over masks.
The FAA can levy civil fines however lacks authority to file legal costs, so it asks the FBI to step in for probably the most critical instances.
“If you act out on a plane, you should just stay at home because we will come after you with serious consequences,” appearing FAA Administrator Billy Nolen stated in an announcement. “We have zero tolerance for unruly behavior.”
The FBI didn’t say how typically it acts on the FAA referrals. Assistant Director Luis Quesada stated the bureau is “committed to investigating all incidents that fall within FBI jurisdiction aboard commercial flights,” however didn’t present numbers.
The FAA announcement about got here as lawmakers push laws to create a brand new no-fly listing for folks convicted or fined for interfering with flight crews. An identical proposal backed by airline unions failed to realize floor final 12 months within the face of opposition from conservatives and civil libertarians. The present FBI no-fly listing is aimed toward folks suspected of terrorism ties.
The 17 instances that the FAA has referred this 12 months embody allegations of assaults in opposition to flight attendants and fellow passengers, makes an attempt to open airplane exits throughout flights, and making an attempt to interrupt into the cockpit.
In the latest case, passengers helped subdue a Leominster man, Francisco Severo Torres, who prosecutors say tried to open an emergency door and tried to stab a flight attendant with a damaged steel spoon throughout a flight from Los Angeles to Boston.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”