AG Garland instructs US attorneys to prioritize unruly airplane passenger prosecution
ABC News
Garland instructs US Attorney's to prioritize unruly passenger prosecution
As people travel to visit loved ones for the holiday season, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland is warning that unruly passengers on flights will not be tolerated and may face prosecution.
“Passengers who assault, intimidate or threaten violence against flight crews and flight attendants do more than harm those employees; they prevent the performance of critical duties that help ensure safe air travel,” the Attorney General wrote in a memo to U.S. Attorneys on Wednesday. “Similarly, when passengers commit violent acts against other passengers in the close confines of a commercial aircraft, the conduct endangers everyone aboard.”
He urged all 52 U.S. attorney's offices to prioritize the prosecution of federal crimes that "endanger the safety of passengers, flight crews, and flight attendants."
On the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screened 2.3 million people, according to an agency spokesperson.
