With continuing reports of unruly passengers refusing to wear facemasks and threatening flight attendants, U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety inspectors and attorneys are being directed to take “strong enforcement action,” including jail time, against passengers who disrupt flight safety.
FAA Administrator Steve Dickson said on Tuesday that he was extending the agency’s zero-tolerance policy against unruly passengers “as we continue to do everything we can to confront the pandemic.” The policy first took effect in January and would have expired March 30 without Dickson’s action.
Facemasks are required under an order from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Dickson said that “the number of cases [of unruly passengers] we’re seeing is still far too high, and it tells us urgent action continues to be required.”
Dickson’s action came within days of two separate announcements…
