Federal Aviation Administration officials said 80 unruly passenger cases, from last year to Tuesday, have been passed to the FBI for further review.
Of the cases, 43 happened in 2022, while the remaining 37 occurred in 2021. There have been nearly 400 total cases, according to the FAA. More than 250 were due to passengers not wearing face masks.
The FAA has reported roughly 6,500 incidents with passengers since January 2021. About 4,600 of those cases involved face masks, according to the administration.
DELTA WANTS DOJ TO PLACE UNRULY PASSENGERS ON NATIONAL ‘NO FLY’ LIST
Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian has likewise advocated for tougher punishments for these types of passengers. In a letter to the Department of Justice, he suggested they all be put on the no-fly list governed by the Transportation Security Administration.
“This action will help prevent future incidents and serve as a strong symbol of the consequences of not complying with crew member instructions on commercial aircraft,” Bastian wrote.
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This comes as FAA Administrator Steve Dickson recently left his position to “devote [his] full time and attention” to his family, according to a letter obtained by the Washington Examiner. Dickson was confirmed to the position in 2019 and meant to serve a five-year term.
