Ruckus in the skies: What happens when airline passengers refuse to wear masks
3 years, 10 months ago

Ruckus in the skies: What happens when airline passengers refuse to wear masks

LA Times  

Under the the Federal Aviation Administration’s recent zero-tolerance order, unruly airline passengers face criminal prosecution or fines of up to $35,000. A passenger on a Southwest Airlines flight about to take off from Chicago to Sacramento also refused to wear a mask, called two flight attendants who ordered him off the plane “pathetic” and hit one of the crew members with his luggage as he walked off, the agency said. The FAA proposed civil penalties ranging from $9,000 to $32,750 against the passengers who the agency alleges refused to wear a mask and caused a ruckus in the incidents on JetBlue, Southwest and Alaska Airlines. More recently, the FAA alleges that an American Airlines passenger assaulted a crew member Saturday on a flight from Miami to New York after refusing to wear a mask. And on March 17, three passengers on an American Airlines flight from Fort Lauderdale to Chicago were removed from the plane before takeoff after refusing to wear masks.

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History of this topic

Unruly airplane passengers disrupting more flights, despite FAA’s zero-tolerance policy
1 year, 9 months ago

Unruly airplane passengers disrupting more flights, despite FAA’s zero-tolerance policy

LA Times  

People pass through Salt Lake City International Airport in January. Federal officials referred more than 250 unruly airline passengers to the FBI for possible criminal prosecution in April, including one in March, when a man tried to stab a flight attendant with a broken-off spoon. shows that unruly-passenger incidents on airplanes increased 47% from 2021 to 2022, from one incident …

Passenger can be deboarded from aircraft for not wearing a mask
2 years, 9 months ago

Passenger can be deboarded from aircraft for not wearing a mask

Deccan Chronicle  

New Delhi: If a passenger does not comply with Covid-19 protocols and refuses to wear a mask despite repeated warnings, such a passenger can be treated as an “unruly passenger” and can be de-boarded, if need be, before departure, the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation has told all airlines. The latest order by the DGCA comes after the Delhi High Court …

Airlines want to bring back passengers banned over masks
2 years, 11 months ago

Airlines want to bring back passengers banned over masks

Associated Press  

DALLAS — Remember all those thousands of passengers that airlines banned for not wearing face masks? “Many of them assure us that now that the mask mandate is off, everything is going to be fine, and I trust that the vast majority of them will.” American Airlines Chief Government Affairs Officer Nate Gatten told reporters that “in most cases,” people …

Uncomfortable flying without a mask mandate? Some airlines may refund your ticket
2 years, 11 months ago

Uncomfortable flying without a mask mandate? Some airlines may refund your ticket

LA Times  

Passengers make their way through Delta Air Lines Terminal 2 at Los Angeles International Airport on Tuesday. Airports and airlines dropped their mask requirements after a federal judge in Florida voided the Biden administration’s mask mandate for planes, trains and buses. An Alaska Airlines spokesperson said the Seattle carrier would “work with guests on a case-by-case basis if they’re not …

Pilots announce mask mandate has been dropped mid-flight in US, angering passengers
2 years, 11 months ago

Pilots announce mask mandate has been dropped mid-flight in US, angering passengers

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Plane passengers in the US are reporting that some pilots announced the country’s federal mask mandate …

Florida judge voids US mask mandate for planes, other travel
2 years, 11 months ago

Florida judge voids US mask mandate for planes, other travel

Associated Press  

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A federal judge in Florida struck down a national mask mandate on airplanes and mass transit Monday, and airlines and airports swiftly began repealing their requirements that passengers wear face coverings. “So thank you and happy unmasking day!” New York City’s public transit system planned to keep its mask requirement in place. The White House said …

Covid-19: No masks required on planes and trains, rules US federal judge
2 years, 11 months ago

Covid-19: No masks required on planes and trains, rules US federal judge

Hindustan Times  

The US Transportation Security Administration will stop requiring passengers on airplanes, trains and other public transportation to wear masks, after a federal judge struck down the mandate earlier Monday. “Today’s court decision means CDC’s public transportation masking order is not in effect at this time,” an administration official said in a statement. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki called the …

US extends mask rule for travel while weighing new approach
3 years ago

US extends mask rule for travel while weighing new approach

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Federal officials are extending the requirement for masks on planes and public transportation for one more month — through mid-April — while taking steps that could lead to lifting the rule. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said last week that her agency must study the science around virus transmission “but also the epidemiology and the frequency that we …

U.S. mask mandates on planes, buses will likely ease soon. Just not yet
3 years ago

U.S. mask mandates on planes, buses will likely ease soon. Just not yet

LA Times  

Patrick Foye, head of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority, hands out masks to subway riders in November 2020. The existing requirement that passengers wear masks on airplanes, buses and other mass transit has been extended through April 18, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announcing it is developing guidance that will ease the mandate next month. “We …

Transatlantic flight returns to Miami after ‘abusive’ first-class passenger refused to wear a mask
3 years, 2 months ago

Transatlantic flight returns to Miami after ‘abusive’ first-class passenger refused to wear a mask

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A transatlantic flight to London returned to Miami after about an hour in the air, after …

Incidents of ‘air rage’ doubled due to mask rules, says Iata
3 years, 4 months ago

Incidents of ‘air rage’ doubled due to mask rules, says Iata

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Rules around compulsory mask-wearing have driven a surge in “air rage” incidents involving unruly passengers, according …

Biggest unruly passenger penalty involves woman who stole cookies and attacked her own family
3 years, 4 months ago

Biggest unruly passenger penalty involves woman who stole cookies and attacked her own family

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy An American air regulator …

FAA has referred 37 air passengers for criminal prosecution
3 years, 4 months ago

FAA has referred 37 air passengers for criminal prosecution

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The Federal Aviation Administration says it has referred 37 cases involving unruly airline passengers to the FBI for possible criminal prosecution since the number of disruptions on flights began to spike in January. The FAA said the cases referred to the FBI are among 227 this year in which it has begun enforcement action that could lead to …

American Airlines plane is diverted after a passenger assaults a flight attendant
3 years, 4 months ago

American Airlines plane is diverted after a passenger assaults a flight attendant

NPR  

American Airlines plane is diverted after a passenger assaults a flight attendant Enlarge this image toggle caption David Zalubowski/AP David Zalubowski/AP A passenger who assaulted a flight attendant aboard an American Airlines jetliner bound from New York to California on Wednesday caused the plane to divert to Denver in what a witness suggested was an altercation over a mask requirement. …

Column: The jerk next to me on the plane wouldn’t wear a mask. Here’s why I didn’t do anything
3 years, 5 months ago

Column: The jerk next to me on the plane wouldn’t wear a mask. Here’s why I didn’t do anything

LA Times  

It really shouldn’t be so hard to follow the mask rules on a flight. A guy on a New Jersey-to-California flight — just one of many examples — was fined $42,000 in May after refusing to wear a mask, “making non-consensual physical contact with another passenger,” throwing a playing card at a passenger, making stabbing gestures toward passengers and “snorting …

Three people kicked off plane for not wearing masks — after nine-hour wait for boarding
3 years, 6 months ago

Three people kicked off plane for not wearing masks — after nine-hour wait for boarding

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Three American Airlines passengers were kicked off a flight at Miami Airport on Friday after reportedly …

TSA Is Doubling Fines For Those Who Refuse To Wear A Mask While Flying
3 years, 6 months ago

TSA Is Doubling Fines For Those Who Refuse To Wear A Mask While Flying

NPR  

TSA Is Doubling Fines For Those Who Refuse To Wear A Mask While Flying Enlarge this image toggle caption Angus Mordant/Bloomberg via Getty Images Angus Mordant/Bloomberg via Getty Images President Biden and the Transportation Security Administration are cracking down on those who defy mask mandates on airplanes with one simple message: "If you break the rules, be prepared to pay." …

American Airlines will not serve alcohol on flights until 2022
3 years, 7 months ago

American Airlines will not serve alcohol on flights until 2022

CNN  

CNN — American Airlines says it will not serve alcohol in the main cabin of its flights until January 18, 2022, when the US mask mandate on public transportation is now set to expire. American suspended alcohol service in the main cabin of its flights earlier this summer, but planned to resume service on September 13 when the transportation mask …

Fines For Disruptive Plane Passengers, Often Over Masks, Have Reached $1 Million
3 years, 7 months ago

Fines For Disruptive Plane Passengers, Often Over Masks, Have Reached $1 Million

NPR  

Fines For Disruptive Plane Passengers, Often Over Masks, Have Reached $1 Million Enlarge this image toggle caption Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg via Getty Images Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg via Getty Images Officials have already fined unruly airline passengers upward of $1 million in civil penalties this year, and many of those citations are related to aggressive refusal to wear masks as required by federal …

TSA extends into January mask rule for airline passengers
3 years, 7 months ago

TSA extends into January mask rule for airline passengers

Associated Press  

Federal officials are extending into January a requirement that people on airline flights and public transportation wear face masks, a rule intended to limit the spread of COVID-19. The Federal Aviation Administration said Tuesday that airlines have reported 3,889 incidents involving unruly passengers this year, and 2,867 — or 74% — involved refusing to wear a mask. Individual airlines declined …

TSA extends to January mask rule for airline passengers
3 years, 7 months ago

TSA extends to January mask rule for airline passengers

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ …

Airlines, unions demand crackdown on unruly passengers
3 years, 9 months ago

Airlines, unions demand crackdown on unruly passengers

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Airlines, flight attendants and pilots are calling for the U.S. Justice Department to prosecute unruly and violent passengers. In a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland Monday, the trade group Airlines for America and unions for pilots and flight crew cited a “substantial increase in and growing escalation of passengers’ unruly and disruptive behavior onboard aircraft, particularly toward …

Opinion: Why the explosion in unruly air passengers?
3 years, 9 months ago

Opinion: Why the explosion in unruly air passengers?

CNN  

Editor’s Note: Dean Obeidallah, a former attorney, is the host of SiriusXM radio’s daily program “The Dean Obeidallah Show” and a columnist for The Daily Beast. Since January, the Federal Aviation Administration recorded approximately 2,900 reports of “unruly behavior by passengers” – which comes out to almost 18 incidents per day. Trump even slammed Fox News Laura Ingraham at an …

Unruly skies: Union chief highlights airline passenger misconduct
3 years, 10 months ago

Unruly skies: Union chief highlights airline passenger misconduct

Al Jazeera  

There have been 2,500 incidents involving unruly airline passengers this year, says the US Federal Aviation Administration, including 1,900 cases in which passengers refused to wear face masks. A Southwest Airlines flight attendant was assaulted by a passenger and lost two teeth in an attack in the United States last weekend, according to a union president, who complained to the …

Passenger fined $10,500 after blowing his nose into a blanket on flight
3 years, 10 months ago

Passenger fined $10,500 after blowing his nose into a blanket on flight

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. It has been a legal requirement for travellers in the US to wear a face covering on a plane since …

US keeps in place mask requirement on planes, transit
3 years, 10 months ago

US keeps in place mask requirement on planes, transit

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — A requirement that people on planes and other forms of transportation in the U.S. wear masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19 will remain in place through at least Sept. 13, the Transportation Security Administration said Friday. Darby Lajoye, the acting TSA administrator, said in announcing the extension that masks “remain an important tool in defeating this pandemic” …

Consider imposing fines on passengers not wearing masks 'properly': DGCA to airports
3 years, 11 months ago

Consider imposing fines on passengers not wearing masks 'properly': DGCA to airports

India TV News  

Aviation regulator DGCA on Tuesday told airports to consider imposing spot fines, with the help of police authorities, on passengers who are found not wearing masks properly and not maintaining social distancing as per the COVID-19 rules. "All airport operators, therefore, are requested to ensure that the instructions on COVID-19 protocol from the standpoint of wearing face mask properly, covering …

Likely Ban of 3 Months on 15 Passengers for Not Wearing Face Mask Properly on Flight: Airlines
4 years ago

Likely Ban of 3 Months on 15 Passengers for Not Wearing Face Mask Properly on Flight: Airlines

News 18  

Fifteen passengers, who were found violating COVID-19 norms on domestic flights of three airlines this month, may be banned for three months by the carriers, senior officials of aviation regulator DGCA said on Wednesday. The DGCA had on March 13 asked airlines to de-board passengers who do not wear their masks “properly" despite repeated warnings and take action against them …

Brawl breaks out at Florida airport after passengers refuse to wear masks
4 years ago

Brawl breaks out at Florida airport after passengers refuse to wear masks

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Captured on camera at the American Airlines terminal, the fight was between three women, who can be seen smacking and …

For flight attendants, getting people to wear masks is now one of the hardest parts of the job
4 years, 2 months ago

For flight attendants, getting people to wear masks is now one of the hardest parts of the job

CNN  

CNN — Masks have become a matter of course on airplane flights, and unfortunately, so have ugly confrontations about wearing them. “Enforcing mass compliance has been one of the most difficult parts of our job,” says Allie Malis, a flight attendant for American Airlines and a government affairs representative for the Association of Professional Flight Attendants. “We’re considered essential workers, …

FAA steps up enforcement against unruly airline passengers
4 years, 2 months ago

FAA steps up enforcement against unruly airline passengers

Associated Press  

Federal safety officials said Wednesday they stepping up enforcement against unruly airline passengers after confrontations on flights to and from Washington, D.C., around the time of the riot at the U.S. Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump. The Federal Aviation Administration said there has been “a disturbing increase in incidents where airline passengers have disrupted flights with threatening or …

FAA seeks fines against passengers for rows over face masks
4 years, 3 months ago

FAA seeks fines against passengers for rows over face masks

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Federal officials said Friday they are seeking civil fines of $15,000 and $7,500 against two airline passengers accused of assaulting flight attendants for telling them to wear face masks. The FAA said the passenger repeatedly screamed obscenities at a flight attendant, then hit him and grabbed his phone while he was telling the captain about the passenger’s behavior. …

Aeroflot to put passengers who refuse to wear masks in special section of plane
4 years, 3 months ago

Aeroflot to put passengers who refuse to wear masks in special section of plane

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy An airline is to seat passengers who refuse to wear a mask in a special section …

$50 fine for not wearing masks at New York city airports
4 years, 4 months ago

$50 fine for not wearing masks at New York city airports

India TV News  

Authorities will start imposing a $50 fine starting from Monday on those who refuse to wear masks at the three airports in New York City. "By making individuals not wearing masks subject to a $50 fine, we are emphasizing the criticality of the mask mandate," Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton said in a statement on Friday. This benchmark, according …

Delta has banned nearly 250 passengers for refusing to wear masks
4 years, 6 months ago

Delta has banned nearly 250 passengers for refusing to wear masks

CNN  

CNN — Delta Airlines’ mask policy is not a suggestion, it’s mandatory. “Although rare, we continue to put passengers who refuse to follow the required face-covering rules on our no-fly list,” says Delta CEO Ed Bastian in an internal memo to employees shared with CNN. No go Less than three weeks ago, Delta had banned 100 passengers for refusing to …

Young children pose a dilemma for airlines with mask rules
4 years, 7 months ago

Young children pose a dilemma for airlines with mask rules

Associated Press  

DALLAS — Two recent incidents involving young children who refused to wear face masks show how airlines are struggling to balance safety with compassionate treatment of all their customers during a pandemic. Last week, a Texas woman said Southwest Airlines booted her family off a plane after one of the children, a 3-year-old with autism, refused to wear a mask. …

Strict mask rules? Empty middle seats? We compare airlines’ COVID-19 policies
4 years, 7 months ago

Strict mask rules? Empty middle seats? We compare airlines’ COVID-19 policies

LA Times  

JetBlue and Southwest offer no medical exemptions to their face-covering rules. Devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic, some U.S. airlines are hoping to put potential passengers at ease by imposing tougher rules for mask wearing, including threats of banning fliers who refuse to cover their faces. “If you don’t wear a mask, you won’t be flying with us.” Airlines can’t fine …

American Airlines bans man who refused to wear face mask
4 years, 9 months ago

American Airlines bans man who refused to wear face mask

Associated Press  

DALLAS — American Airlines has banned a man who was kicked off a plane for refusing to wear a face covering, among the first such incidents since airlines promised this week to step up enforcement of their mask rules. According to the airline, conservative activist Brandon Straka ignored requests by crew members to wear a mask while the plane with …

Passenger removed from American Airlines flight has been temporarily banned by the airline
4 years, 9 months ago

Passenger removed from American Airlines flight has been temporarily banned by the airline

CNN  

CNN — After becoming the first known case of someone kicked off a flight due to refusal to wear a mask Wednesday, an American Airlines passenger has now become the first to be temporarily banned by an airline. Passenger Brandon Straka was asked to get off a flight from New York to Dallas after he refused to wear a face …

Refuse to wear a face mask and these airlines may ban you from future flights
4 years, 9 months ago

Refuse to wear a face mask and these airlines may ban you from future flights

CNN  

CNN — US airline passengers who figured face mask enforcements had more bark than bite could end up getting bit. “Those who choose not to comply with this or other safety requirements risk future flight privileges with Delta, which is in keeping with the face covering enforcement policies Airlines for America recently announced,” Delta said. The airline says that “any …

Airlines Say They Will Ramp Up Enforcement Of Face Covering Policies
4 years, 9 months ago

Airlines Say They Will Ramp Up Enforcement Of Face Covering Policies

NPR  

Airlines Say They Will Ramp Up Enforcement Of Face Covering Policies Enlarge this image toggle caption David Zalubowski/AP David Zalubowski/AP Major airlines will ratchet up their enforcement of face-covering policies, according to Airlines for America, an industry association. Prior to each flight, Alaska, American, United, Delta, Southwest, Hawaiian and JetBlue Airways will communicate to passengers their policy on individual face …

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