The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has referred 43 unruly passenger cases to the FBI for possible prosecution over the past year, as part of an ongoing effort to curb dangerous in-flight behavior. Since January 2021, when a zero-tolerance policy was implemented, the FAA has referred more than 310 cases to the FBI. Despite an 80% drop in incidents since their peak in early 2021, airlines still reported over 1,240 unruly passenger cases in 2024. These cases often involve serious misconduct such as attempts to breach the flight deck, physical assaults, and inappropriate sexual behavior. The FAA can impose civil penalties up to $37,000 per violation, but only the FBI can pursue criminal charges. Both the FAA and U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the severe safety risks posed by such behavior and reiterated the commitment to holding offenders accountable.