Justice Dept. to prioritize prosecuting violence on flights

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By MICHAEL BALSAMO

WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General Merrick Garland directed U.S. attorneys across the country to swiftly prioritize prosecution of federal crimes that happen on commercial flights as federal officials face a historic number of investigations into passenger behavior.

Garland’s memo, issued Wednesday, emphasizes that the Justice Department is committed to aggressively prosecuting violent passengers who assault crew members or endanger the safety of other passengers. Federal law prohibits interfering with a flight crew, including assaulting, intimidating or threatening crew members.

In a statement, Garland said such passengers do more than harm employees. “They prevent the performance of critical duties that help ensure safe air travel. Similarly, when passengers commit violent acts against other passengers in the close confines of a commercial aircraft, the conduct endangers everyone aboard,” he said.

The memo also notes that dozens of incidents have been reported to the FBI by the Federal Aviation Administration — it investigates some flight disturbances and can issue civil fines to disruptive passengers — as part of an “information-sharing protocol” between the two agencies.



FILE - A plane prepares for a flight during holiday travel at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Nov. 23, 2021, in Atlanta. Attorney General Merrick Garland directed U.S. attorneys across the country to swiftly prioritize prosecution of federal crimes that happen on commercial flights as federal officials face a historic number of investigations into passenger behavior. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/business-merrick-garland-c3b947f81b4281266f9f97eb279db3ba

[oldsoftie]

1. Good. They cause so much more trouble than just on their flight.

The next leg of that jet is delayed, other flights may be delayed, all the passengers who miss connections or meetings at their destinations, etc. Its a long list
Throw the book at the jackholes

[Alpeduez21]

2. Expect it to take

two to three years before the perp sees a courtroom. The wheels of Garland's justice are pushed by sloths.

[jimfields33]

3. He's probably grateful.

[SheltieLover]

4. Good!

[NullTuples]

5. Oh, good. I was worried they were going to waste time prosecuting insurrectionist Congresspeople.

Yes, that's sarcasm.

For the airline people, why does the DoJ need to get involved? Why not just use local, state or federal law enforcement agencies? What happened to the "sky marshals"? For all the theater post- 9/11, I'm amazed at how little has actually been done by various levels of law enforcement to make flights safer, even when there are near-constant actual threats (that happen to be right-wing).

[LetMyPeopleVote]

6. For this thread

Link to tweet

[usaf-vet]

7. The moment they cause a midair disruption and land. Put their names on the DO NOT fly list.....

.... and leave it there until they have had their day in court.

That will cut down on disruptions and them stalling the judicial system.

[Diraven]

8. Cue up Republicans whining

That this is politically motivated targeting of conservatives since most of these are fights started by passengers refusing to wear masks.

[The Mouth]

9. There need to be SEVERE criminal and civil penalties.

At the minimum, a few years in club fed and being financially responsible for every expense related to every person whose plans are disrupted.