By David Koenig -
The Associated Press
Since late 2021, federal authorities have referred more than 250 violent passenger cases to the FBI for possible prosecution, including one as recent as last month in which a man attempted to stab a flight attendant with a broken spoon.
However, the pace of criminal referrals is slowing.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA, for its acronym in English) identified 17 cases that it has sent to the FBI in the first three months of this year, the majority for incidents that occurred last year but were slow to investigate.
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Airlines have reported fewer cases of unruly passengers since last April, when a federal judge struck down the requirement to wear masks on planes and public transportation.
Before that ruling, about two-thirds of all incidents on planes involved disputes over masks.
The FAA can impose civil fines, but it lacks the authority to bring criminal charges, so it asks the FBI to intervene in the most serious cases.
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“If you misbehave on a plane, stay home because we will come after you with serious consequences,” Billy Nolen, acting FAA administrator, said in a statement.
"We have zero tolerance for unruly behavior."
The FBI did not say how often it acts on referrals from the FAA.
Deputy Director Luis Quesada said the office is "committed to investigating all incidents that fall within the jurisdiction of the FBI aboard commercial flights," but did not provide figures.
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The FAA announcement comes at a time when lawmakers are pushing legislation to create a new no-fly list for people convicted or fined of interfering with flight crews.
A similar proposal, backed by airline unions, fell through last year in the face of opposition from conservatives and civil liberties advocates.
The current FBI no-fly list is intended for people suspected of having ties to terrorism.
The 17 cases the FAA has referred this year include allegations of assaults on flight attendants and colleagues, attempts to open aircraft exits during flights and attempts to break into the cabin.
In the most recent case, passengers helped subdue a man who prosecutors say tried to open an emergency door and stab a flight attendant with a broken metal spoon during a flight from Los Angeles to Boston.