The final numbers are in from the Federal Aviation Administration on unruly, disruptive or downright violent airline passengers.

It’s a staggering number — 5,891 to be exact — were reported to the FAA.

Of that total, 72% or 4,290 were mask-related issues. Some planes were diverted, passengers were taken off flights and in some cases, fines and criminal charges were proposed.

Some passengers were even banned from flights. And while many airlines announced they were eliminating or restricting on board alcohol service, that didn’t reduce the number of incidents.

Why?

So many of these passengers were drinking at the airport before they boarded their flights so they were already drunk. Add altitude, a pressurized cabin, and you get the picture.

Will it get any better?

The solution may be not in the air but on the ground.

Can airport retailers be convinced not to serve alcohol to any passenger within 45 minutes of their boarding time? Stay tuned.