The pandemic-era restrictions imposed by airlines might be over, but passenger incidents are not.
Mask requirements may have been lifted, but passengers drinking too much before a flight is still an issue.
The Federal
Aviation Administration is reporting that incidents on airplanes are still
high, and some of them are fueled
by intoxication.
Of the more than 900 passenger disturbances reported in the
first nine days of June, more than 100 involved alcohol.
The pandemic caused many of the inflight outbreaks. It was so severe, in fact, that more than 270 cases over a two-year span were referred to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
While there has been a slight decrease, the situation remains a cause for concern. Last year, the FAA issued fines totaling $7.5 million, a figure that was still $1 million higher than the fines imposed in 2022, when the pandemic was at its peak. This trend is worrisome, especially as the airlines and the Transportation Security Administration gear up for what is projected to be a record-breaking summer of travel.
The TSA has already screened a record number of single-day passengers on Memorial Day this year.
Reassuringly, a “zero tolerance policy” implemented by the FAA is still firmly in place, demonstrating their commitment to maintaining safety and order on flights.
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