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A passenger on Delta Air Lines Flight 501 from Atlanta to Los Angeles allegedly bit one passenger and assaulted others shortly after the plane landed at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Monday (March 17). The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and law enforcement are investigating the incident.
According to the Los Angeles Fire Department and the Transportation Security Administration, the adult male passenger was restrained by staff on board. An ambulance transported the man to the hospital for a psychological evaluation and later returned to examine the injured passenger.
Delta Air Lines spokesperson Samantha Moore Facteau stated, "Delta has zero tolerance for unruly behavior and will work with law enforcement authorities." The passenger could face criminal or civil penalties, though details about his status after the hospital visit remain unclear.
The FAA reported over 2,100 incidents of unruly passengers in 2024, with more than 300 such cases already logged this year. The agency can propose civil penalties up to $37,000 per violation for passengers who assault, threaten, or interfere with airline crew members. Unruly behavior on flights reached a peak during the pandemic in 2021, with nearly 6,000 incidents recorded.
As the investigation continues, the man involved in the incident may face legal consequences, including possible prosecution on criminal charges.