The Home Democrats urge the FAA to take motion towards unruly vacationers

People walk at Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia.

Hannah McKay | Reuters

Two key House Democrats on Monday called on the Federal Aviation Administration to take action against recalcitrant travelers and ensure that those involved in last week’s riots do not fly at the US Capitol.

Your comments come ahead of President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration and following reports of disruptions on board flights in Washington, DC, ahead of Wednesday’s US Capitol riot and other flights out of the area afterwards. The incidents included pro-Trump chants, arguments from passengers and refusal to wear masks. Masks are required to fly on US airlines.

“This behavior can cause serious problems if it occurs in the cabin, especially if pilots and flight attendants are forced to de-escalate or respond to such events while they are performing their critical safety duties to ensure the well-being of every traveler on board,” so Rep. Peter DeFazio of Oregon, chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Rep. Rick Larsen of Washington, chairman of the subcommittee on aviation, wrote in a letter viewed by CNBC to FAA Administrator Steve Dickson.

The FAA did not respond immediately.

Alaska Airlines said Friday it banned 14 travelers from flying from Washington, DC to Seattle. The travelers were “not mask-conforming, loud, argumentative and harassed our crew members,” said spokesman Ray Lane.

A video on social media showed Sen. Lindsey Graham, RS.C., being harassed for confirming the November presidential election results. The airlines also took other precautionary measures prior to the demonstration planned at the time, e.g. B. Moving crews to airport hotels outside of central Washington, DC

“Unfortunately, as members of this mob have left the capital of our nation, their obnoxious behavior continues in airports and on board commercial aircraft, as evidenced by press reports depicting” capricious “and” unruly “behavior and harassment of travelers and crew members during the flight and the speech will be described by elected officials, “wrote the legislature.

FAA chief Dickson warned travelers Saturday that they would face hefty fines and possible jail time if they behaved unruly. Interference with flight crews is unlawful and can be fined up to $ 35,000.

Lawmakers urged Dickson to do more, including working with airlines, airports, trade unions and others “to develop a plan to implement multiple layers of action under the Constitution to identify cases of those related to the attack from last Wednesday or their attacks. ” Sympathizers could try to fly to Washington, DC again. “

They asked Dickson to come up with a plan by Friday.