FORT WORTH (WBAP/KLIF) – Fort Worth based American Airlines is sounding the alarm on an increasing number of passenger misconduct incidents on planes.
According to the airline, American Airlines flight 976 with service from New York (JFK) to Santa Ana (SNA) diverted to Denver due to a passenger who it says physically assaulted a flight attendant. The plane landed safely and taxied to the gate where law enforcement removed and apprehended the passenger.
“We are outraged by the reports of what took place on board,” American Airlines said in a statement released on Thursday. “Acts of violence against our team members will not be tolerated by American Airlines. We have engaged local law enforcement and the FBI and we are working with them to ensure they have all the information they need. The individual involved in this incident will never be allowed to travel with American Airlines in the future, but we will not be satisfied until he has been prosecuted to the full extent of the law. This behavior must stop, and aggressive enforcement and prosecution of the law is the best deterrent.”
The Association for Professional Flight Attendants’ said Thursday that passenger misconduct issues on planes have soared since the start of the COVID pandemic.
“This is life threatening behavior on an aircraft,” said AFPA Spokesperson, Paul Hartshorn. “It’s dangerous and it threatens the safety of flights.”
The AFPA is calling for the creation of an industry wide no fly list for passengers banned from an airline. In addition, the union is asking for Federal prosecution of anyone who attacks a flight crew member.
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