37 incidents of unruly passenger behavior on airplanes are headed to the FBI for criminal review
CBSN
Of the roughly 5,000 reports of unruly passenger behavior this year, the Federal Aviation Administration has submitted 37 incidents to the FBI for criminal review, CBS News has learned. The referrals are in addition to civil penalties — more than $1 million proposed this year — for bad behavior in the skies and any criminal charges brought by local authorities.
The FAA and Department of Justice have worked together since August to develop an "efficient method for taking legal action on the most egregious cases," the agencies said Thursday in a joint statement shared with CBS News.
"Let this serve both as a warning and a deterrent: If you disrupt a flight, you risk not just fines from the FAA but federal criminal prosecution as well," said FAA Administrator Steve Dickson in the statement.
