A United Airlines flight from the United States to Israel turned back in the early morning of the 22nd because some passengers were "unruly".

It was the second U.S. airliner in two days to return after a passenger did not comply with boarding rules.

　　The FAA last year introduced a "zero tolerance" policy for unruly airline passengers and launched thousands of investigations into assaults, threats of violence or interference with flight attendants.

Data released by the agency earlier this month showed record-breaking violations by U.S. airline passengers last year, most of which were related to wearing masks.

not uncommon

　　United Airlines said in a statement on the 22nd that one of its flights took off from Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey on the evening of the 21st and was originally scheduled to fly to Tel Aviv, Israel, but turned back in the early morning of the 22nd about three hours after takeoff. The reason is that some travelers do not follow the rules.

After the plane returned to Newark Airport, law enforcement officers intervened.

　　United did not specifically explain the unruly behavior of those involved.

　　CNN reported that about a day ago, a passenger plane took off from Miami, Florida, originally scheduled to fly to London, England, and returned because some passengers refused to comply with the "mask order" imposed by the US federal government.

　　U.S. airlines began requiring passengers to wear masks on flights in mid-2020, and the FAA mandated "zero tolerance" for unruly travelers in early 2021.

Data released by the FAA earlier this month showed that the agency recorded 5,981 incidents of non-compliance with travel regulations in 2021, of which 4,290 were related to wearing masks.

　　From 1995 to 2020, the agency investigated an average of 182 passenger non-compliance incidents each year, and 1,081 such incidents in 2021, according to FAA data.

　　In December, a 28-year-old California woman admitted in court that she beat a flight attendant on a passenger plane last May, leaving him bruised and three teeth damaged.

　　Court documents show that a flight attendant reminded the female passenger to wear a mask and cooperate with other safety measures when she was beaten.

The woman faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, AFP reported.

　　This year, U.S. carriers have faced no sign of improvement in the passenger non-compliance with travel rules.

As of Jan. 18, the FAA said the agency had recorded 151 such incidents, 92 of which were related to mask wearing.

Looking forward to change

　　CNN quoted Sarah Nelson, president of the American Midwest Flight Attendants Association, as saying that in addition to some violent attacks on flight attendants by passengers that attracted high media attention, American flight attendants also found that some passengers' violent words and deeds were not aimed at a certain person. It's pounding seats, spitting on people, throwing trash at others, and making gender- and racist remarks.

　　"Nowadays, when flight attendants wear uniforms, people don't know if it's a sign of cabin safety or if it's a target of violence," Nelson said.

　　CNN reports that the FAA can issue up to $37,000 in fines to unruly travelers for a single violation, and will refer some cases to the FBI, which decides whether to open a criminal investigation .

In the first eight months of 2021, the FAA has cumulatively issued more than $1 million in fines for violating passengers.

　　Nelson said it would be a deterrent for some passengers to be convicted or even serve prison terms for unruly behavior.

She also recommended that all U.S. airlines implement a uniform "no-fly order" for travelers with unruly behavior.

　　U.S. airlines have full discretion to "no-fly" passengers who violate their own flight rules. The airline's internal "no-fly" list is different from the federal "no-fly" list.

Typically, passengers are placed on a "no-fly" list by federal agencies if they may pose a "terrorist threat" to an aircraft, U.S. homeland or facilities.

　　U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said on a CNN program last October that a "no-fly" list for unruly travelers "should be on the agenda."

"Bad treatment, abuse, disrespect to flight attendants is unacceptable."