Dangerous Behavior Doesn't Fly

Incidents where airline passengers have disrupted flights with threatening or violent behavior are an ongoing problem and airlines have seen rapid growth in occurrences since 2021. The FAA has a zero-tolerance policy on unruly passenger behavior.

Unruly Passenger Statistics

The FAA investigates unruly-passenger incidents that airline crews report to the agency. The data below reflects all cases the FAA investigated that cited violations of one or more FAA regulations or federal laws.

Click each icon on the interactive graph below to see total unruly passenger reports, investigations initiated, enforcement actions, and fines levied for each year. 

The rate of unruly passenger incidents steadily dropped by over 80 percent since record highs in early 2021, but recent increases show there remains more work to do.

Failing to follow crew instructions or engaging in disruptive or violent behavior on a plane can affect you in more ways than one:

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Jail Time

Unruly passengers incidents are referred to the FBI when warranted and can earn you a felony conviction.

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Fines

The FAA can propose up to $37,000 per violation for unruly passenger cases. One incident can result in multiple fines.

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Travel Restrictions

Unruly behavior can affect your TSA PreCheck® eligibility or land you on an internal no-fly list for an airline.

Additional Information

  • Interfering with the duties of a crewmember violates federal law.
  • The FAA has civil authority, allowing it to impose fines. It does not have criminal prosecutorial authority, although passengers who engage in unruly behavior can still be prosecuted on criminal charges.
  • As part of the FAA's Reauthorization Bill, FAA can propose up to $37,000 per violation for unruly passenger cases. One incident can result in multiple violations. Passengers who engage in unruly behavior can be fined by the FAA or prosecuted on criminal charges.
  • The FAA's database contains only those incidents reported to FAA. Reporting is at the discretion of the crewmember.
  • FAA regulations prohibit airlines from allowing intoxicated passengers to board and prohibits passengers from consuming alcohol onboard that isn't served by a flight attendant.

VIEW THE ZERO TOLERANCE DIGITAL TOOLKIT

Former FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker reiterates that the FAA has zero tolerance for unruly passenger behavior. Dangerous passengers put everyone at risk. Threatening or violent behavior can distract and disrupt crewmembers from their primary responsibility – to ensure the safety of all passengers.