Unruly airline passengers could now lose their TSA PreCheck eligibility, officials say
Unruly plane passengers could face new consequences as federal officials continue to crack down on bad behavior.
Those fined by the Federal Aviation Administration for disruptive behavior now risk losing TSA PreCheck screening eligibility, the agencies announced Tuesday, Dec. 21.
PreCheck status provides expedited security screening at more than 200 U.S. airports, a “privilege” allowing low-risk passengers to get through TSA checkpoints in 5 minutes or less, according to federal officials.
“If you act out of line, you will wait in line,” FAA Administrator Steve Dickson said in a statement.
The new punishments are part of a partnership between the TSA and FAA, which has seen a surge in reported incidents of unruly passenger behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since Jan. 1, the FAA said it has gotten nearly 300 reports of passengers behaving badly, mostly due to alcohol and intoxication, as of Nov. 22.
“TSA has zero tolerance for the unruly behaviors, especially those involving physical assault occurring aboard aircraft. We have tremendous respect for airport staff, gate agents and flight crews that get people safely to their destinations,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske said in a statement.
“This partnership with FAA will help ensure the safety and security of all passengers and hold those who violate federal regulations accountable for their actions,” Pekoske added.
The FAA announced more than $161,000 in fines against eight passengers in November for alleged disturbances involving alcohol, according to a news release. In one case, a passenger on a Southwest Airlines flight was accused of drinking alcohol he brought on the plane illegally and later sexually assaulted a flight attendant, officials said.
A Delta Air Lines flight heading to Los Angeles had to be diverted to Oklahoma City earlier this month after a passenger allegedly assaulted a flight attendant and an air marshal, McClatchy News reported, citing police.
The man, 35, was subsequently arrested on “complaints of disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.”
This story was originally published December 21, 2021 at 12:20 PM with the headline "Unruly airline passengers could now lose their TSA PreCheck eligibility, officials say."