WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The head of the Federal Aviation Administration said on Monday he will indefinitely extend a “zero tolerance policy” on unruly air passengers that had been set to expire March 30 in the face of hundreds of reported incidents.
FAA Administrator Steve Dickson said in a statement he will extend the policy “as we continue to do everything we can to confront the pandemic … The number of cases we’re seeing is still far too high, and it tells us urgent action continues to be required.”
FAA officials said the extension will last at least as long as a federal transportation face mask order remains in effect.
The official added that airlines have reported more than 500 unruly passenger cases to the FAA since late December and to date the FAA has initiated about 20 enforcement actions and is reviewing more than 450 cases.
(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Chris Reese)
