FAA has sent only 37 unruly passenger cases to DOJ

CNN — The Federal Aviation Administration – which cannot prosecute violent airline passengers – has sent only 37 of the more than 5,000 passenger complaints this year to the Justice Department, highlighting a significant challenge when it comes to enforcing the strict rules for the increasingly unruly skies. In a rare joint statement issued first to CNN, the two agencies said they are “working closely together to ensure unruly airline passengers face criminal prosecution when warranted.” The multi-agency announcement comes after months of pressure from airline worker unions for the federal government to get tougher on violence on commercial flights. “It really does require the cooperation of all those private-sector stakeholders and including the airports, as well as the various aspects of the federal government.” President Joe Biden said in early October that he has instructed the Justice Department to address the rising violence on airplanes as passengers resisting mask requirements threaten airline staff. “I instructed the Justice Department to make sure that we deal with the violence on aircraft coming from those people who are taking issues,” Biden said during an October 7 event outside Chicago.