(WASHINGTON) — The Transportation Security Administration will resume crew member self-defense training in early July.
The program was previously paused due to the pandemic and its restart comes amid an increase in unruly passenger incidents on flights.
“Through this training program, TSA’s Federal Air Marshals are able to impart their specialized expertise in defending against and deescalating an attack while in an aircraft environment,” Darby LaJoye, senior official performing the duties of the TSA administrator, said in a press release.
The voluntary training provides flight crew members with techniques “for responding against an attacker in a commercial passenger or cargo aircraft,” including self-defense measures and ways to identify and deter potential threats.
“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,” LaJoye said.
The Federal Aviation Administration has received approximately 3,100 reports of unruly behavior by passengers this year, including about 2,350 reports of passengers refusing to comply with the federal face mask mandate.
While many of these incidents are occurring on flights, they are also happening at security checkpoints. The agency is reminding travelers to “be patient.”
“Passengers do not arrive at an airport or board a plane with the intent of becoming unruly or violent; however, what is an exciting return to travel for some may be a more difficult experience for others, which can lead to unexpected, and unacceptable, behaviors,” LaJoye said.
TSA pointed to two recent incidents where passengers assaulted Transportation Security Officers, or TSOs, during the screening process. Both passengers face a potential civil penalty of up to $13,910 for each violation of TSA security requirements, the agency said.
“I’m asking people, the American public, to do is be patient with these TSOs as they’re trying to ensure your safety as you go those flights, and as you come off,” Everett Kelley, national president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the union that represents TSOs, said in an interview with ABC News.
ABC News’ Mina Kaji contributed to this report.
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
