A string of recent airline incidents raises an uncomfortable question: why do so many travelers now feel comfortable behaving outrageously in airports and on airplanes? The latest example involves a JetBlue passenger who bit a flight attendant and still avoided jail time.
Earlier this year, a passenger aboard an American Airlines regional flight grabbed a flight attendant, threw him to the ground, and attempted to drag him down the aisle during a midair outburst. The attack forced the aircraft to return to the airport and could easily have escalated into a far more dangerous situation.
Yet despite the seriousness of the assault, the passenger ultimately avoided jail time. Instead, a federal judge sentenced him to probation and imposed a fine of just $500. Federal law allows penalties of up to 20 years in prison for interfering with a flight crew member, but in this case the punishment was dramatically lighter.
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