A passenger who was caught on camera punching a Delta flight attendant in the face over a dispute about wearing face masks is now facing a very stiff financial penalty.
The incident happened on October 19, on Delta flight 1997 from Miami to Atlanta. Before takeoff, a man “refused to wear his mask, secure his seat tray table, and fasten his seatbelt,” according to an FAA press release. Consequently, the plane returned to the gate.
Flight attendants then asked the man and his female traveling companion to voluntarily get off the plane. “In response, the passenger accompanying the non-compliant traveler ignored the flight attendant’s instructions, began yelling expletives at the flight attendant and other passengers, and struck the flight attendant under her left eye,” said the FAA.
BBC journalist Suzanne Kianpour, who was on the flight, tweeted that the altercation went down over a passenger’s refusal to wear a mask “as per policy.” She included a video in which you can see the passenger clearly punch the Delta employee.
“She hit her face! Oh lord!,” said a woman off camera. “You can’t hit a flight attendant!”
Police later arrived and escorted the two passengers off the plane.
Another video, shot on a smartphone from a different angle and published by NBC’s Miami affiliate, also shows the moment the passenger hit the flight attendant.
Hours after the incident happened, Delta Air Lines said in a statement, “There is nothing more important than the safety of our people and customers. That’s why two customers who did not comply with crew safety instructions were asked to deplane Flight 1997 this evening. We do not tolerate violence of any kind and this situation is currently under investigation. We apologize to customers for the flight delay this caused.”
Yesterday, the Federal Aviation Administration proposed a $27,500 penalty for the female passenger who struck the flight attendant. Federal law prohibits interfering with aircraft crew, physically assaulting or even threatening to physically assault aircraft crew or anyone else on an aircraft. Passengers who violate this law can be subject to civil penalties, criminal fines and imprisonment.
Last month, the FAA adopted a stricter, zero-tolerance policy toward passengers who cause disturbances on flights or fail to obey flight crew instructions in violation of the FAA’s regulations or engage in conduct proscribed by federal law.
Historically, the FAA has handled unruly-passenger incidents using a variety of methods ranging from warnings and counseling to civil penalties. The days of warnings or counseling are over — at least through next month.
“The agency will pursue legal enforcement action against any passenger who assaults, threatens, intimidates, or interferes with airline crew members. This policy will be in effect through March 30, 2021,” according to the agency.
READ MORE
- FAA Can’t Explain Pilot’s UFO Sighting Last Weekend Over New Mexico
- Why Ted Cruz’s United Airlines Flight Info Was Hiding In Plain Sight
"here" - Google News
February 27, 2021 at 09:23PM
https://ift.tt/2O1R7Zw
Here’s The Fine For Punching A Flight Attendant In The Face - Forbes
"here" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2z7PfXP
https://ift.tt/2Yv8ZPx
No comments:
Post a Comment