Unruly Passengers

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) investigates cases of unruly passenger behavior when reported by airline crews. These reports often involve violations of FAA safety rules or federal laws.

The FAA created a digital toolkit to support its Zero Tolerance Policy, including press releases, videos, and graphics designed to encourage safe, respectful flight behavior.

As of July 26, 2022, the FAA reported the following year-to-date data:

• 1,701 reports of unruly passengers
• 582 investigations started
• 380 enforcement actions initiated
• 2.4 incidents per 10,000 flights (for the week ending July 17, 2022)

FAA Investigations by Year (1995–2022)

Year	Investigations initiated
1995	146
1996	184
1997	237
1998	204
1999	226
2000	255
2001	305
2002	279
2003	286
2004	310
2005	205
2006	137
2007	153
2008	124
2009	139
2010	128
2011	155
2012	183
2013	149
2014	147
2015	105
2016	102
2017	91
2018	159
2019	146
2020	183
2021	1099
2022	582

What the Law Says

Under federal law, it’s illegal to interfere with airline crew duties. FAA regulations clearly state that no passenger may assault, threaten, intimidate, or interfere with a crewmember on an operating aircraft (14 CFR 91.11, 121.580, 135.120, and others).

Before the Zero Tolerance Policy, the FAA might close cases with warnings or counseling. However, the current policy addresses cases more aggressively, with civil fines or legal action.

Penalties for Misbehavior

Passengers who act out onboard can face serious consequences:

• Civil fines of up to $37,000 per violation (increased from $25,000)
• Multiple violations can be tied to one incident
• Criminal prosecution in more serious cases

The data includes only incidents reported to the FAA. Reports are made at the discretion of the flight crew. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) handles security-related cases, such as those involving threats to flight safety.

The message is clear: unruly behavior won’t be tolerated, and passengers can face heavy penalties for putting others at risk.