---
title: "Mask or No Mask, FAA Sticks to Tough Stance on Unruly Flyers"
description: "Violent and unruly airline passengers will continue to face steep fines and potential criminal charges even as rules mandating face coverings fade away."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "FAA slams unruly passengers"
author: "Bloomberg"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/bloomberg/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-04-21-mask-or-no-mask-faa-sticks-to-tough-stance-on-unruly-flyers/"
published: "2022-04-21T04:55:05"
updated: "2022-04-20T21:32:59"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 203
---

# Mask or No Mask, FAA Sticks to Tough Stance on Unruly Flyers

> Violent and unruly airline passengers will continue to face steep fines and potential criminal charges even as rules mandating face coverings fade away.

By Bloomberg · Published 21 April 2022, 06:55 SAST · Updated 20 April 2022, 23:32 SAST

## Content

By Ryan Beene

Apr 20, 2022, 8:55 PM - Updated on Apr 20, 2022, 8:55 PM

Word Count: 200

(Bloomberg) --The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration on Wednesday said its zero-tolerance policy against unruly passengers will be made permanent as it attempts to deter bad behavior. The move came two days after most major U.S. airlines [eliminated](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-04-18/united-alaska-air-drop-face-mask-mandates-after-court-ruling) policies requiring passengers to wear masks, an issue that has contributed to thousands of attacks on airline personnel since the FAA began its crackdown in January 2021.

“Behaving dangerously on a plane will cost you; that’s a promise,” Acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen said in an emailed statement. The agency can impose fines of as much as $37,000 per violation. The FAA had referred 80 cases for prosecution as of Feb. 16.

More than 1,200 unruly passenger incidents were reported this year through mid-April, roughly 800 of which were related to masks, according to the FAA. While the number of incidents is far above pre-pandemic years, the rate per flight has declined more than 60% from its peak, according to agency data. Airlines have been working with the Biden administration to create a nationwide [no-fly](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-02-14/unruly-travelers-push-u-s-airlines-agencies-toward-no-fly-list) list to ban the worst offenders.

--With assistance from Alan Levin.