On November 24, 2021, the eve of the holiday travel season, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced that he directed federal prosecutors to focus on crimes occurring on commercial aircrafts, as unruly passenger air travel continues to surge throughout the country since the beginning of the pandemic.
“Passengers who assault, intimidate or threaten against flight crews and flight attendants do more than harm those employees; they prevent the performance of critical duties that help ensure safe air travel,” said AG Garland, “Similarly, when passengers commit violent acts against other passengers in the close confines of a commercial aircraft, the conduct endangers everyone aboard,” he said.
Federal prosecutors will focus on crimes committed by passengers against flight crews or other passengers, such as public drunkenness, drug use, disputes over wearing masks, physical assaults, sexual abuse, or any other type of criminal behavior that endangers the safety of commercial flights during this holiday season. The FBI and FAA have primary responsibility to investigate these criminal violations along with their local law enforcement counterparts. In many cases, those convicted of such crimes can face lengthy prison terms and large fines.
If you find yourself a target of such a criminal investigation, please consult with the attorneys at Dysart Willis, who have a wealth of experience representing individuals in cases involving the interference of flight crews, as wells as, lewd and drunken behavior, terroristic threats, and assaults aboard commercial aircrafts anywhere in the country.