Receive more similar updates bysubscribing to our Travel newsletter here.

The FAA is stepping up its efforts by referring more unruly passenger cases to the FBI, noting that it forwarded 43 incidents of disruptive behavior for investigation over the past year.

“There is no justification for disruptive behavior,” stated FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker. “It endangers the safety of everyone onboard, and we have a strict policy against it.”

The incidents referred include serious offenses such as assaults, inappropriate sexual conduct, and multiple attempts by passengers to enter the flight deck or open emergency doors.

Some examples of the referred incidents documented in the last year include:

• A passenger displaying inappropriate sexual behavior towards a flight attendant on February 13.

• A passenger who inappropriately touched a minor traveler on June 21, 2013.

• A passenger who assaulted crew members and other passengers both physically and sexually on November 15, 2021.

“Hazardous passengers jeopardize the safety of all,” remarked Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “Disruptive passengers may face hefty fines from the FAA and can also be subject to criminal charges.”

Passengers engaging in disruptive behavior can be fined up to $37,000 for each violation, and may also face criminal charges if the FAA escalates their case to the FBI.

The FAA has forwarded over 310 cases for criminal investigation since 2021.

The FBI provides instructions on its website on how to report crimes occurring on flights.

Steps to take if you see a misbehaving passenger

If you observe illegal activities on a flight, particularly those related to sexual misconduct, experts recommend documenting the event, attempting to distract the offender, and alerting the cabin crew or relevant authorities.