Air Rage on the Rise

Have you ever been on a flight where a passenger’s outburst disrupted the entire cabin? If so, you’re not alone. Unruly behavior, or “air rage,” has become a troubling trend in recent years, affecting both airlines and passengers. What’s behind this surge in disruptive incidents?

Rising Number of Incidents

The number of unruly passenger incidents has increased significantly in recent years. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), there were 2,455 reported incidents of unruly behavior in 2020, a number that skyrocketed to 5,981 in 2021. Although there was a slight decrease in 2022 with 2,456 incidents reported, the figures remain alarmingly high compared to pre-pandemic levels. But what is causing this spike in incidents?

Covid-19 and the Zero Tolerance Policy

Following the Covid-19 pandemic and the enforced mask mandate in airline policy, the dramatic increase in unruly passenger incidents were fueled by mask mandate refusals and heightened tensions following the Jan. 6, 2021 U.S. Capitol riot. That month, the FAA had to enforce a “zero tolerance policy” in handling disruptive behavior on flights, bypassing warnings or counseling, and moving straight to legal prosecution. The passenger aggression was so out-of-hand that American Airlines^® flight attendants voted to strike over Labor Day, citing “additional work duties, difficult scheduling, and passenger aggression” as their main complaints, according to the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA).

Passengers who violated rules faced severe repercussions, including hefty fines up to $35,000 per incident and potential criminal prosecution by the FBI. The most significant fine issued so far under this policy was $81,950, levied against a passenger who assaulted a flight attendant and attempted to open the cabin door mid-flight. From 2021 to 2022, legal enforcement actions by the FAA rose from 350 cases to 567, with fines increasing from $5 million to $8.4 million. Although the mask mandate ended in 2022, incident reports are still at an all-time high.

Protection From Abusive Passengers Act

As a solution to the increased incidents, lawmakers introduced the Protection from Abusive Passengers Act, which has gained support from cabin crew and their unions. This bipartisan proposal aims to bar violent passengers from flying if convicted of assaulting aviation workers and exclude them from the TSA PreCheck^® and Customs’ Global Entry programs. Lawmakers emphasized the need to end assaults against airline workers and ensure accountability, stating that anyone who assaults an airline worker should be permanently banned from flying.

Lawmakers believe the FAA’s Zero Tolerance policy and the Protection from Abusive Passengers Act will serve as strong deterrents, improving the safety of frontline aviation crews, attendants, and passengers. These measures aim to minimize disruptions to the national aviation system and restore confidence in air travel.

References: What’s behind all these cases of unruly aircraft passengers? | Air Rage Is Getting Worse, And Airlines Can’t Fix It