LOS ANGELES– An investigation has begun after a man allegedly attacked another passenger on Delta Air Lines (DL) flight DL501 from Atlanta (ATL) to Los Angeles (LAX), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed.
The FAA reported that the Airbus A350 landed safely at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) around 11:45 a.m. on Monday, March 17, following crew reports of a passenger disturbance during the flight from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
Photo: Clément AlloingDelta Unruly Passenger Bites Co-Pax
While neither the airline nor the FAA disclosed specific details about the incident or potential penalties, the Los Angeles Fire Department provided additional information to KABC-TV.
Fire officials reported that the flight crew described an adult male passenger who had to be restrained after allegedly biting one passenger and hitting others. Emergency personnel transported the disruptive passenger to a hospital for psychological evaluation before returning to examine the injured passenger.
The FAA has documented more than 1,800 unruly passenger incidents in 2024, with over 300 such incidents already recorded in 2025.
One notable incident occurred on December 23, when an unruly passenger on a flight from Cincinnati to Las Vegas caused a diversion to Kansas City (MCI), where the individual was removed from the aircraft.
Delta Air Lines issued a statement emphasizing their stance on disruptive behaviour aboard their aircraft.
“Delta has zero tolerance for unruly behavior and worked with law enforcement authorities on the investigation,” a Delta spokesperson stated.
Penalties for Disruptive Passengers
The FAA emphasized the serious consequences of such behaviour.
“The FAA pursues legal enforcement action against any passenger who assaults, threatens, intimidates, or interferes with airline crewmembers, and can propose civil penalties up to $37,000 per violation,” the agency stated.
Law enforcement continues to investigate this latest incident as part of ongoing efforts to address disruptive behaviour in air travel.
Photo: American AirlinesSimilar Incident
A Georgia-to-Florida flight returned to the departure airport Monday evening after a passenger allegedly assaulted two crew members. According to federal court documents, 31-year-old Delange Augustin now faces charges of interference with flight crew members.
The incident occurred on American Eagle (MQ) flight 4162 (operated by Envoy) from Savannah (SAV) to Miami (MIA), which was carrying approximately eight passengers and five crew members. Court filings state that witnesses observed Augustin “stomping, incoherently yelling and shaking” shortly after takeoff, prompting a flight attendant to check on what appeared to be a medical emergency.
When approached, Augustin allegedly turned in his seat, raised his legs, and kicked the flight attendant in the chest. After hearing reports of the disturbance from the secured cockpit, the pilots decided to return to Savannah.
Augustin’s sister, who was traveling with him, reportedly defended his behavior by stating, “He hurts evil.”
“Safety and security are our top priorities,” American Airlines said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “We appreciate the professionalism of the entire crew and thank our passengers for their understanding.”
Law enforcement is still looking into this most recent incident as part of their ongoing efforts to deal with disruptive behaviour in aviation.
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United Passenger Arrested for Assaulting Gate Agent at Washington Dulles
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