Nearly half of flight attendants claim that they have been in a physical altercation with passengers this year. Their union calls for criminal prosecution of those who behave on planes.Union survey confirms what federal officials and airlines have been saying about the rise in disruptive passengers this year. Sometimes, they even become violent.According to the Association of Flight Attendants' survey, passengers who don't wear masks on flights are the most common triggers. According to the union, alcohol is the second most important factor. Flight delays are also a contributing factor.According to the union, nearly 5,000 flight attendants participated in its survey between 25 June and 14 July. 85% of respondents said that they had dealt with an unruly passenger at least once during this year. According to the union, 17% of respondents reported experiencing a physical incident.Some claimed they were cursed, yelled at or threatened, while others said they were followed through airports and harassed after they landed, according to the union. It represents flight attendants at United Airlines, Alaska Spirit, Spirit, and other smaller carriers.For the duration of the mask ban, airlines have expelled a few thousand passengers and the Federal Aviation Administration proposed that they impose fines on dozens of others. Union president Sara Nelson stated that more passengers should be prosecuted.People who act out on a plane are in danger of being sentenced to jail. We need some sobering-up, Sara Nelson, president of the unions, stated.Some cases lead to criminal charges. Crews may ask for police to meet the plane upon landing. A video of a female passenger punching Southwest flight attendant in the face led to a 28-year old woman being arrested in San Diego on felony charges. These cases are typically filed by local prosecutors. The FAA does not have the authority to pursue criminal charges.According to the FAA, airlines reported more than 3600 unruly passengers in this year's report. These figures are not comparable with previous years. Nearly three quarters of all cases involved disputes about masks. There are dozens of proposed penalties that the agency has announced, including the maximum $52,500 for a man who attempted to open the cockpit door and then struck the flight attendant on a Delta Air Lines flight in Dec.According to the FAA, 600 additional cases are being investigated this year. This is nearly twice the amount of investigations that were initiated in 2019 and 2020. Stephen Dickson, FAA administrator, announced in January that there is a zero tolerance policy under which passengers are subject to immediate enforcement actions instead of being warned.
