Unruly passenger forces United Airlines flight diversion

This incident is part of a broader trend involving unruly passengers. In January 2021, then-FAA Administrator Steve Dickson introduced stricter legal enforcement policies against such behavior due to a “disturbing increase in incidents” related to mask refusals and violence linked to political unrest. Dickson emphasized that flying remains safe but noted that disruptive actions could lead to penalties up to $35,000 and possible imprisonment.

The FAA has reported fluctuations in unruly passenger cases over recent years. Incidents peaked in 2021 with nearly 6,000 reports but decreased significantly by 2024. As of early February this year, there have been around 120 reports of misbehavior onboard flights.

In addition to fines, severe cases can be referred by the FAA to the FBI for further investigation and potential prosecution for offenses including assault or interference with flight operations.