FAA asks FBI to consider criminal charges against 22 unruly passengers – including sexual assault, attacking flight attendants, attempting to break into the cockpit, terrorism threats and smoking in the lavatory

US officials said on Tuesday they had referred 22 other cases involving unruly passengers on airline flights to the FBI for possible criminal charges.

The allegations include the sexual assault of female passengers, the attack on flight attendants, the attempt to break into the cockpit, terrorist threats and smoking in the plane’s lavatory.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the incidents occurred as early as late 2021 and as recently as April this year.

The FAA can seek fines of up to $37,000 against unruly passengers, but it does not have the power to institute criminal proceedings; therefore the agency refers some cases to the FBI.

There have been 1,200 reports of ‘plane rage’ so far this year – well below 6,000 in 2021

Reports of passengers acting on flights peaked in 2021, with many of the roughly 6,000 incidents involving anger over a mask requirement since dropped.

The number fell to less than 2,500 last year and less than 1,200 so far this year, the FAA said.

The FAA said it has referred more than 270 cases to the FBI since late 2021.

Attacks on flight attendants and other passengers have become almost routine in 2021.

In December 2021, a Delta flight from Washington D.C. to Los Angeles was hijacked after a passenger attacked an in-flight flight attendant and then ignited an Air Marshal.

The plane had to be diverted to Oklahoma City, and the suspect, believed to be in his 30s, was taken from the plane in handcuffs, SCS reported.

The flight then continued to Los Angeles, where it was scheduled to land at 10:17 p.m. Pacific time, about two hours late.

The officer and flight attendant did not sustain any serious injuries and did not require hospitalization.

Flight DL342 took off from Reagan National Airport at 5:16 p.m. local time, but an in-flight altercation broke out

An anonymous passenger attacked a flight attendant, then turned on an air marshal.

It is unclear what the altercation ended in

The plane had to be diverted to Oklahoma City and the suspect, believed to be in his 30s, was taken from the plane in handcuffs.

Oklahoma City Police Capt. Arthur Gregory said an air marshal tried to arrest the suspect after he “assaulted a flight attendant,” but he “assaulted the air marshal.” air”.

In April this year, two British men were told they faced federal charges in the United States after their plane from Mexico to Britain was forced to divert to Maine.

US prosecutors say Damien Murphy and his friend Anthony Kirby, both 36, have been arrested for their extremely disruptive behavior.

The couple reportedly partied on holiday with other friends over New Years weekend.

Some six armed officers boarded the Tui flight from Cancun moments after it was forced to land at Bangor International Airport in Maine, after it was claimed the couple assaulted verbally and physically passengers and crew.

Pictured: Damien Jake Murphy (left) and Anthony Joseph James Kirby (right), both 36, from Manchester, were arrested by US officers and charged with federal offences. They face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

In video filmed by a passenger, the first man, wearing a black tote and a red plastic bag, walks down the aisle laughing as police escort him followed by his friend, who passes an officer.

The two then find themselves embroiled in a verbal altercation with others on board, with one of them yelling, “Get off.

One of the men responds, shouting, ‘F**got.’

A third man dressed in black calmly descends from the plane followed by the American police.

Murphy and Kirby, both from Manchester, have been charged with federal offenses and face up to 20 years in prison if convicted. A third man, who has not been named, has not been charged.

And in April this year, a first-class passenger went viral after he was filmed bursting into tears when he was arrested for an argument over a gin and tonic before takeoff.

The unidentified man had supposedly asked for the cocktail, but officers refused, leading to an argument that prompted staff to call police.

Social media was quick to slam the ‘man-child’ who was later filmed sobbing as he was arrested on the jet deck of the American Airlines flight.

The clip begins with the man being ordered to leave by officers – which he refuses.

Other passengers can be heard begging the man to get off the plane, but he continues to sit still as he argues with officers.

A first-class passenger has gone viral after he was filmed bursting into tears when he was arrested for an argument over a gin and tonic before takeoff

At one point, he pulls out his phone to record the altercation, but it’s quickly pulled from his hand.

Officers then dragged him out of his seat and argued with him in the driveway.

The man cried “stop” several times before bursting into tears.

After finally leaving the plane, he continues to moan as he falls to the ground and is pinned down by officers who handcuff him.

It is unclear why he was denied gin and tonic or how the situation escalated.

American Airlines rules state that first-class passengers are allowed a drink before takeoff.

The man allegedly complained that he was not guilty of a crime.

However, the U.S. Department of Transportation says airlines can remove any passenger for reasons relating to “safety, security, or health risks, or because of behavior considered obscene, disruptive, or otherwise unlawful.” .