FAA to pursue fines against two more difficult air travelers

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced two more heavy fines against misbehaving airplane passengers on Monday totaling more than $20,000.

The FAA is continuing its zero-tolerance policy on disorderly passengers, The Associated Press reports.

The agency said Monday it was fining one passenger $10,500 for repeatedly ignoring orders to wear a mask while on a JetBlue Airways flight from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to Los Angeles. During the flight the man reportedly coughed and blew his nose on a blanket.

A separate $9,000 fine was levied against a JetBlue passenger who flew from LA to Newark, N.J., in March. According to the AP, the man slammed overhead bins and cursed at airplane staff before being escorted out of the terminal by law enforcement.

Last week, the FAA announced it would be fining two unruly passengers $32,750 and $16,500 respectively. Both passengers are accused of physically assaulting flight attendants.

In January, FAA Administrator Steve Dickson announced that he would be adopting a “zero-tolerance policy” toward bad behavior on flights. In lieu of warnings, the agency would instead pursue fines and jail time.

“The policy directs our safety inspectors and attorneys to take strong enforcement action against any passenger who disrupts or threatens the safety of a flight, with penalties ranging from fines to jail time,” Dickson said at the time. “The number of cases we’re seeing is still far too high, and it tells us urgent action continues to be required.”

CNN reported last week that despite the number of airplane passengers remaining below pre-pandemic levels, the number of reports the FAA is receiving has grown immensely. The agency would previously get a single report every few days, but is now receiving multiple reports daily.