'Critical to everyone's safety': TSA resumes self-defense training amid uptick of unruly passengers

[ElNono]

'Critical to everyone's safety': TSA resumes self-defense training amid uptick of unruly passengers

It’s been a rough year for some Transportation Security Administration employees.

Air travel is picking back up to pre-pandemic levels, but the number of incidents with violent passengers has increased in tandem. The Federal Aviation Administration has initiated nearly 500 investigations into "unruly passenger" incidents so far this year, more than three times the total number in 2019.

The TSA called the incidents "troubling" in a Thursday statement, adding the agency reported similar incidents at checkpoints across the country. To help deter assaults, the agency is bringing back self-defense training for flight crews.

Preparing for the worst

The training, which was on pause due to COVID restrictions, is led by federal air marshals and is set to begin next month. The program teaches crew how to de-escalate and, if needed, defend against an attack in a commercial passenger or cargo aircraft.

“While it is our hope that flight crew members never have need for these tactics, it is critical to everyone’s safety that they be well-prepared to handle situations as they arise,” Darby LaJoye, Senior Official Performing the Duties of the TSA Administrator, said in a Thursday news release.

The voluntary four-hour training is free to flight crew members, and offered at 24 locations across the country.

Unruly passengers on the rise

The training comes as aviation employees — including transportation security officers — face an uptick in violence among passengers.

Just this month, two separate assault incidents in Denver and Louisville, Kentucky, led to law enforcement involvement.

In Louisville, two transportation security officers were allegedly assaulted by a passenger who attempted to "breach the exit lane," according to a TSA statement. The passenger faces state criminal charges for criminal trespass, fleeing and evading police, misdemeanor assault, and resisting arrest.

The Denver incident, which is under investigation, allegedly involved a passenger biting two security officers. The passenger, as well as the passenger involved in the Louisville incident, face a potential civil penalty of up to $13,910 for each TSA security requirement violation, according to the agency.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/trave...lt/5358099001/

[ElNono]

I mean, you would think that when you have to start fist fighting your own customers, maybe it's time to re-evaluate the business.

I get that between cartelization and sometimes outright monopolization of the service you don't have to give much of a , but I can't think many businesses that would get away with this.

Flying has turned into such a show, tbh... 2 hour flight turns into a 8 hour ordeal, walled off terminals selling $5 water bottles, seats getting smaller and smaller, asinine overbooking, nickel and diming you from bags to 'select' ty economy seats, etc.

Another instance where deregulation fired off a race to the bottom and made things substantially worse.

[Thread]

Yep, it's been an ordeal since at least 9/11 and grown progressively worse as you've delineated. I rarely fly so it's not that much of a factor. I just dun an adult diaper...

"Dale, you look ridiculous."

"I know, but I feel sexy. Talk baby talk to me, Girl."

"No!"

...and head on out to Sky Harbor, put my head down once seated and suffer till arrival. Nothing else one can do. Without the diaper I'll spend the whole gd flight in the can, or in queue for said can. It's all psychological.

[GAustex]

Reeln in them years ain’t for pussys

[Spurtacular]

RandomNono threads on the rise.

[ElNono]

Yep, it's been an ordeal since at least 9/11 and grown progressively worse as you've delineated. I rarely fly so it's not that much of a factor. I just dun an adult diaper...

"Dale, you look ridiculous."

"I know, but I feel sexy. Talk baby talk to me, Girl."

"No!"

...and head on out to Sky Harbor, put my head down once seated and suffer till arrival. Nothing else one can do. Without the diaper I'll spend the whole gd flight in the can, or in queue for said can. It's all psychological.

I'm seriously considering driving from CA to TX for the holidays... it's normally a 6 hour flight, but once you add traffic, security, delays, etc, more like 8-9 hours. Flying first class was nice last year since they were basically giving away the tickets, but now that is getting back to normal, it's just not worth it.

I rather spend it on a nice hotel or two and do the 22 hour ride, plus get to know some of the cities on the way. Funny thing is I absolutely hate driving, but the whole flying experience has just become near unbearable.

I'm already dreading having to fly for work, which we do quite a bit. Though international flights have been much less of an issue.

[Frenchfred]

I'm seriously considering driving from CA to TX for the holidays... it's normally a 6 hour flight, but once you add traffic, security, delays, etc, more like 8-9 hours. Flying first class was nice last year since they were basically giving away the tickets, but now that is getting back to normal, it's just not worth it.

I rather spend it on a nice hotel or two and do the 22 hour ride, plus get to know some of the cities on the way. Funny thing is I absolutely hate driving, but the whole flying experience has just become near unbearable.

I'm already dreading having to fly for work, which we do quite a bit. Though international flights have been much less of an issue.

we haven't seen unruly behavior too much here in Europe. You probably have more problems caused by the trump supporters who see covid as fake.

[boutons_deux]

FAA plans $500,000 in new fines against violent and anti-mask passengers



https://www.rawstory.com/faa-mask-fines