That clever little flask, those innocent tiny plastic bottles of hooch or some other form of deception that succeeds in smuggling your alcohol on a flight?
Not worth it.
The Federal Aviation Administration flexed its influence and put an exclamation point on that sentence, saying Tuesday it’s pursuing monetary punishment in the thousands against three unfortunate souls.
The JetBlue and SkyWest passengers in question are facing fines of up to $31,750 for allegedly disrupting flights by disobeying or interfering with flight attendants.
And, yes, alcohol played a role in each incident.
The FAA was not just issuing a casual warning when the agency announced a “zero-tolerance” policy against disruptive air travelers.
The specifics, from a USA Today story:
On a Jan. 4 JetBlue flight from Haiti to Boston, a man drank alcohol that he had brought on board, then began yelling and grabbed the arms of two flight attendants. The crew called police to meet the plane when it landed. The FAA is seeking a $31,750 fine against the man.
The same flight: Another passenger was drinking alcohol he had brought on board, shouted obscenities, and “made motions to strike a flight attendant.” Police escorted him off the plane in Boston. The FAA is seeking a $16,750 penalty.
On a Jan. 14 SkyWest flight from Yuma, Ariz., to Dallas-Fort Worth, a man reportedly drank “multiple” mini bottles of his own alcohol and bothered other passengers. Flight attendants moved him, but he left his seat, at one point starting toward the front of the plane. Two off-duty law enforcement officers wrestled the man back into his seat. The FAA is seeking a $14,500 fine.
The agency has given these bad actors 30 days to respond to enforcement letters.
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