The Federal Aviation Administration said the $81,950 and $77,272 fines are the two largest it has ever brought against an individual passenger for acting out on an aircraft.
Two airplane passengers accused of hitting and biting crew and other passengers are facing a total of nearly $160,000 in fines, US officials announced Friday.
"After the passenger was restrained in flex cuffs, she spit at, headbutted, bit and tried to kick the crew and other passengers," the FAA said."Law enforcement apprehended her in Charlotte.""We applaud our crew for their professionalism and quick effort to protect those on board," the statement said.
"We are thrilled that the FAA and Dept of Transportation are making fines match the crime," said spokesman Paul Hartshorn of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants."We have to have accountability for people who are doing this." The FAA said that passenger, from a Delta Air Lines flight last July, also had to be physically restrained by the flight crew.The incidents are two of nearly 6,000 instances of violent and disruptive passengers reported to the Federal Aviation Administration last year. Crews reported more than 1,000 more in the first few months of 2022, according to FAA data.