Q: With the state of no-nonsense security, what happens if you misbehave on a plane?
— Jennifer A.
A. Now, Jennifer, your question worries me a bit (so I'm showing a well-behaved passenger in the image to the right just to set a tone).
I hope this is isn't a thinly veiled attempt to learn how far you can go before being body blocked by a Federal Air Marshal. You do know they travel armed, don't you?
Dangerously antisocial in-flight behavior (my people call it air rage) is a felony, which can be punishable by up to 20 years in prison and $25,000 in penalties (not to mention civil suits and lifetime play on the online venures).
The rules are clear. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) prohibits passengers from assaulting, threatening, intimidating, interfering or endangering the crew or fellow passengers.
The days of a mere slap on the hand, verbal reprimand and stern scowl for in-flight shenanigans have gone the way of the in-flight moist towelette.
For instance, a passenger was recently found guilty of assaulting a flight attendant and interfering with her duties. He was sentenced to 33 months in a federal prison. Having to be subdued by the co-pilot did not help the case of the accused. In another case, a passenger was successfully sued for $750,000 for assaulting and injuring a flight attendant.
So the next time you feel the urge to fling a pudding cup at the purser, or douse your row mate with Evian, retreat to your calmer inner self and keep your hands to yourself.
Some industry leaders are calling for an air rage blacklist of potentially dangerous passengers who would be banned from air travel worldwide for life.
And several lawmakers have called for a two-drink maximum onboard commercial aircraft, as most air rage incidents involve alcohol.
In recent years, the escalation of the fines, jail time and enforcement has helped reduce air rage instances. As for things to come, the most promising deterrent will be the advent of onboard surveillance cameras, which are now being tested.
As a point of clarification, it's still okay to ring your flight attendant call button, but you better smile when you make your request.
