The Federal Aviation Administration announced today that two passengers aboard a flight from Haiti to Boston have been fined.
The first was hit with a A$410,000 fine (US$31,750) over his behaviour on the jetBlue flight on January 4.
“The FAA alleges the passenger drank his personal alcohol, which jetBlue did not provide, and acted in a disruptive manner,” the administration said in a statement.
“The passenger yelled and waved his hands in an angry manner after flight attendants responded to a report from another passenger who complained about his behaviour.
“The FAA further alleges this passenger grabbed the arms of two separate flight attendants during the flight, and the cabin crew needed to reseat surrounding passengers.”
The passenger was met at the arrival gate by police and was escorted off the plane.
A second passenger on the same flight was fined A$21,600 (US$16,750) after getting drunk on his own alcohol.
“The passenger yelled, shouted obscenities, and made motions to strike a flight attendant when they arrived at his seat in response to a complaint from another passenger,” the statement read.
“The flight crew asked law enforcement to meet the aircraft at the arrival gate, and police escorted the passenger off the plane.”
Another man was fined A$18,700 (US$14,500) over his behaviour on a flight from Yuma, Arizona, to Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas on January 14.
The FAA alleges the man drank multiple 50mL bottles of alcohol which were not provided by the airline.
“The passenger repeatedly turned around and tried to touch a passenger behind him; as a result, flight attendants moved him to another seat,” the statement read.
“After he was moved, he continued to bother passengers around him and to leave his seat.
“At one point, two off-duty law enforcement officers had to physically wrestle him back into his seat, but the passenger again got up and started to walk to the front of the aircraft.”
Police met the plane at the arrival gate.
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“Federal law prohibits interfering with aircraft crew or physically assaulting or threatening to physically assault aircraft crew or anyone else on an aircraft,” the statement read.
“Passengers are subject to civil penalties for such misconduct, which can threaten the safety of the flight by disrupting or distracting cabin crew from their safety duties.
“The FAA is strictly enforcing a zero-tolerance policy toward passengers who cause disturbances on flights, fail to obey flight crew instructions in violation of the FAA’s regulations, or engage in conduct proscribed by federal law.”
US federal law allows for criminal fines and imprisonment for disruptive passengers.
The disruptive passengers have not been identified by the FAA.
This content first appear on 9news