Cracking Down on Disruptive Passengers

Passengers who disrupt flights or attack crews are targeted by a new federal law and a first-ever security guide issued by the airlines’ trade group.

The Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill, signed by President Clinton earlier this month, increases maximum fines from $1,100 to $25,000 per incident against passengers who threaten or assault airline crews or endanger the aircraft or passengers. The new fines took effect upon signing. David Fuscus, spokesman for the airlines’ Air Transport Assn., said his group is happy with the change and has just issued a 52-page guide on prosecuting disruptive incidents. It is being provided free of charge to federal agencies and U.S. airlines; otherwise it costs $125. Telephone (202) 626-4000, Internet https://www.air-transport.org.

The West has been the site of several well-publicized incidents in the air. Among them: an Alaska Airlines passenger accused of breaking into the jet cockpit en route from Mexico to San Francisco in March and a Southwest Airlines plane that made an emergency landing in Las Vegas last year after a passenger was accused of striking a flight attendant.

The publicity has led to the impression that such incidents are increasing. Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.), a sponsor of the FAA bill amendment that increased the fines, cited “the dramatic increase of violent incidents during airline flights.” But the number of such cases recorded by the FAA has actually declined from 308 in 1997 to 178 in 1999.