Earlier this year, the Federal Aviation Administration announced stiff fines and penalties for any unruly airline passenger, and those fines could be as high as $35,000 per incident. And that didn’t include any other civil or criminal penalties.
At first, most of the offending passengers were those refusing to wear masks. Now, the reason for the offenses has shifted.
More and more passengers are boarding planes with alcohol purchased at airport retail stores — or they’re already inebriated at nearby bars in the terminals.
The airports have not yet installed breathalyzers at airport jetways, and the problem is continuing to grow along with the fines.
If you see someone drunk at a departure gate, report it immediately. The combination of alcohol and altitude puts everyone in jeopardy, regardless of any fine or penalty on the ground.
