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 Assaults on airline employees have risen in number over the past few years. AFA, along with other flight attendant unions, companies and the FAA, continues to address this safety problem.
It is a violation of federal law for a passenger to interfere with crewmember duties. An incident report may be filed with the FAA regarding a passenger's behavior. Federal penalties for crew interference include fines up to $10,000 and imprisonment up to twenty years or both.
AFA was successful during the 106th Congress in increasing the civil penalty from $1,100 to $25,000. In addition, the new law allows for the Attorney General to deputize local law enforcement officials. This gives local officials the authority to detain a violent, abusive, or disruptive passenger when the aircraft arrives at the airport. In the past, such passengers could simply leave when the plane had arrived at the gate.
AFA believes that more can be done to protect crew assaults. AFA calls for airlines to be required to adopt policies concerning crewmember interference and that the FAA must monitor the effectiveness of these policies. AFA also supports raising the flying public's awareness of the penalties for assaulting or interfering with the duties of a crewmember.
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