Record: Bite And Attacking Flight Attendants To Other Passengers, These Two People Are Banned From Flying And Fined IDR 1 Billion Each

Illustration of an American Airlines airline. (Wikimedia Commons/TJDarmstadt)

JAKARTA - The two passengers set a dark record when they were banned from flying and fined more than Rp. 1 billion each for attacking flight attendants and other passengers.

The total fine for both reached around Rp.2,348,456,000. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the fines are US$81,950 or around Rp. 1,202,849,807 and US$77,272 or around Rp.1,134,186,825.

These are the two largest fines ever imposed on an individual passenger for their actions on the plane. The first passenger to be fined around IDR 1.2 billion is accused of repeatedly hitting a flight attendant on the head on an American Airlines flight last July. Flight attendants responded to threats and attempts by passengers to open aircraft doors, the FAA said.

"After the passenger was restrained in flexible handcuffs, he spat, wentre, bit and tried to kick the crew and other passengers. Law enforcement arrested him in Charlotte," the FAA said, citing CNN April 9.

American Airlines said in July it was barring its passengers from flying with the airline.

"We commend our crew for their professionalism and swift efforts to protect those on board," the statement said.

Meanwhile, a union representing airline flight attendants said punishment for anger would make other passengers feel safer on the plane.

"We are pleased that the FAA and the Department of Transportation made the fine commensurate with the crime," said Paul Hartshorn, a spokesman for the Professional Flight Attendant Association.

"We have to take responsibility for the people who did this."

Illustration of the Delta Airlines fleet. (Wikimedia Commons/Quintin Soloviev)

Separately, the passenger facing a IDR 1.1 billion fine is accused of trying to "hug and kiss the passenger sitting next to him; walking to the front of the plane to try to get out during the flight; refusing to return to his seat; and biting other passengers several times."

The FAA said passengers from a Delta Air Lines flight last July also had to be physically restrained by the flight crew.

The incidents are two of nearly 6,000 violent and disruptive passenger cases reported to the Federal Aviation Administration last year. Crews reported more than 1,000 cases in the first few months of 2022, according to FAA data.

So far, the FAA has announced fines of around $3.6 million since launching its zero-tolerance campaign in 2021.

"Don't be a jerk on the plane. Also if you're not on the plane, don't (asshole)," urged Transportation Minister Pete Buttigieg in an appearance on 'Talkshow The View' shortly before the announcement.

"The bottom line is, if you do it on a plane and you endanger the flight crew and fellow passengers, you will be fined by the FAA and you may be referred for criminal charges."

For information, the FAA said it had referred 80 passengers to the Department of Justice for criminal prosecution.