Ever wonder what happens to people who totally lose it on airplanes? KING 5 News tells us it costs the airlines about $200,000 to divert a plane, but the FAA is surprisingly lenient with troublemakers. Most just get warning letters. I suppose you might get in serious hot water if they scramble fighter jets to escort you back to terra firma. Here are some of the penalties slapped on top perpetrators, from the FAA crime blotter:
- $34,125 for cursing, spitting, and biting other passengers, and assaulting a flight attendant with a metal seatbelt buckle.
- $27,500 for sprinkling water through the cabin, damaging a lavatory, and threatening to blow up the plane.
- $25,000 for smuggling aboard a liter of rum, getting drunk, then assaulting a passenger.
- $18,000 for groping a female flight attendant and assaulting a passenger.
- $15,000 for swearing and verbally threatening to stab a flight attendant.
Video: Think American air travel is stressful? You ain’t seen nuthin’ …