The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) wants a civil penalty of nearly $27,500 against a passenger accused of physically striking a flight attendant in the face after being asked to leave the plane.
During an October 2020 flight from Miami to Atlanta, the incident occurred when a verbal altercation turned violent after the flight attendant asked the passenger to disembark because her traveling companion refused to wear his mask.
The agency said the man also refused to follow any direction given to him during the flight, including wearing his seatbelt or returning his tray in the upright position during takeoff.
Once the aircraft returned to its gate in order for the pair to exit, the woman allegedly became belligerent, yelling at passengers and the flight attendant, and eventually struck the attendant in the face, under her left eye.
Federal law prohibits passengers from interfering with aircraft crew or physically assaulting them, or threatening to physically assault anyone on an aircraft.
Any passengers who violate this law are subject to civil penalties for such misconduct, which can threaten the flight’s safety by disrupting or distracting the cabin crew from their responsibilities.
“The FAA is strictly enforcing a zero-tolerance policy toward passengers who cause disturbances on flights or fail to obey flight crew instructions in violation of the FAA’s regulations or engage in conduct proscribed by federal law,” their press release stated.
The FAA did not identify the passengers involved in this incident, but the agency did state that the woman has 30 days to respond to the penalty.
