FAA Asks Airport Police To Arrest More Unruly Passengers

I think there is a big difference when people brawl at a pub or in their neighborhood vs at an airport or airplane. If the FAA fines aren't enough then this should become a federal crime. Unless you happen to be restraining someone trying to hijack a plane or opening doors, etc. Violence at an airport and especially within an airplane should only be allowed by Air Marshals or similar federal officers. The media needs to report how high these fines are and that people were serving jail time for fighting. They are a danger and threat to their fellow passengers and if they aren't adult enough to understand that then they have to be educated by the legal system.

If only there was some kind of transportation security agency that could arrest people at airports

If you are someone who would get into a brawl/major altercation at an airport, then you don't belong in a plane. Simple as that. It is so easy to be a "decent" person (and there's a pretty low bar for that nowadays), that anything else deserves harsh punishment.

You need to read between the lines here. FAA's intention is pretty clear with their opening statement.

"While the FAA has levied civil fines against unruly passengers,"

FAA is looking for $$$$$. They ride on the wave that more people are misbehaving after being stuck at home for a year.
The unwanted consequences will be the cabin crew or front line employees will be exercising their powers to the fullest extent, not just to unruly passengers but to all passengers who doesn't comply with anything. We have enough airline Gestapos already.

I don't condone any air rage or disruptive behavior. I'm merely echoing the hidden meaning.

Here's the problem I have...the FAA is only looking at 1/2 of the puzzle. I don't condone violence in any form, but you can't place all the blame on the individual and let the airlines off the hook.

Case and point...Spirit Airlines. For the past five days, they have been "resetting" operations with the cancellation of 50%+ of their flights daily, stranding thousands of passengers.

Another case and point...AA scheduling too many flights and not enough pilots.

The airlines' response..."we're sorry, we'll try and rectify the situation...in the meantime, you are on your own for additional expenses and trying to get home. If you want to wait in a line for 9+ hours, we can help you then."

If you want to really tackle the problem, you need to work both sides of the issue.

Well, they'd have to create one because a current transportation security agency has no such power.

If the FAA wanted to address alcohol, then it should prohibit it from being served in airport lounges in addition to restaurants and bars.

We do have a good record of prohibition after all, so yes let’s blame alcohol instead of personal responsibility/failing to be an actual adult

I don't think alcohol is the issue. I think this is a symptom of who is flying currently. I am not trying to be elitist but typically a plane (at least on major carriers) is mostly filled with business and other regular flyers. Over the past year, the majority of people flying seem to be people who are not regular flyers. These people don't know a lot of the etiquette of flying and aren't surrounded by good examples as they typically would be. Basically, every carrier is flying Spirit's clientele.

Federal jurisdiction in most airports ends at TSA screening. FAA cannot even limit gun "enthusiasts" from openly carrying weapons in Atlanta airport baggage claim. wackos can just drink outside security and start arguments in screening line rather on the plane. Just let them drink and accept that fixing air travel may well require fixing America's broken social contract rather than putting up yet another selectively enforced regulation. Seeing every topic as a battle between a good team and bad team ain't working. You're going to have to talk to other team or they'll just keep messing with you. As long as people are ticked off all the time, good luck controlling violence.

But Bo, you are being elitist. Own it. That would truly not be elitist.

We can help by not calling punching or sexually assaulting a flight attendant "misbehaving" when it is a straight-up crime, or attempts to sabotage a plane or open a cabin door in-flight as "bad behavior" when it is a catastrophically dangerous felony.

"I am not trying to be elitist, but I am going to be elitest and entitled as heck." - Bo

It is never okay to assault someone, and yes I would be really annoyed if my flight got diverted because of a passenger acting a fool. Also, yes, people who don't usually travel may be traveling more now. On top of that, going on an airplane is the first time some have been re-socialized in society.

Maybe this is the educator in me, but I highly doubt anyone is thinking, I'm going to act like a fool on this flight and I won't get in trouble. Increasing the consequence will do nothing to curb the frequency.

Creating and maintaining a comfortable flying experience, disincentivizing alcohol and understanding that a lot of people are doing something they haven't done in 1.5 years (assume forever) and that will go a long way.

Would DEFINITELY like to see no alcohol served on planes …. Breath testing could be the way to go as well !!!
Had an incident on our plane arriving from Bali this morning
Offender escorted off plant by police
Very unnerving ….