Federal Agencies Crack Down On ‘Air Rage’ On Passenger Jets

Alarmed at the growing incidence of “air rage,” the FBI and other federal agencies have announced a get-tough policy aimed at stopping threats or violence that occur on the nation’s passenger jets.

“This is a zero-tolerance program,” said Robert Walsh, special agent in charge of the FBI’s San Francisco office, who along with other officials warned that passengers on commercial jets who get out of line face federal prosecution and civil fines.

The Federal Aviation Administration, which will investigate all complaints and has the clout to impose civil penalties, has monitored 73 cases within the past year. The agency has imposed $117,000 in civil penalties and pushed for federal prosecution in most of the cases, said FAA official Gerald Moore.