Second, the end of mask mandates played a crucial role. Masks became a contentious issue during the pandemic, with the Biden administration converting airline-imposed rules into a federal mandate. Following a Supreme Court interpretation and a district court ruling that struck down the mandate, unruly passenger incidents dropped by more than half immediately after mask requirements ended.

Third, alcohol sales on planes resumed. Contrary to expectations, banning alcohol sales during the pandemic led passengers to drink excessively before boarding or smuggle their own alcohol onto flights. With alcohol sales reinstated and consumption monitored by flight attendants, incidents involving intoxicated passengers have decreased.

Despite these improvements, most inflight incidents referred to the FAA do not result in punishment. Of one group of 2,413 incidents involving refusal to comply with mask rules, only two resulted in fines being paid. Most investigations lead to warnings rather than fines—about two-thirds received warnings and fewer than 2% were referred for penalties.

High-profile cases where administrative penalties are pursued often involve immediate responses from law enforcement but are rare. Generally, social norms and decency among passengers maintain order more effectively than legal consequences while in-flight.