(Scypre.com) – Frontier Airlines reported the arrest of a disruptive passenger on Flight 708 bound for Tampa, Florida.
Identified as Shuri Turner by Denver police, the individual became belligerent while onboard the aircraft, prompting the airline to ask them to leave.
The situation escalated when Turner allegedly struck a flight attendant with an intercom phone. The details leading up to the passenger’s removal were not disclosed by Frontier.
Denver Police Department responded to the disturbance at around 3:55 a.m. on Sunday. Turner was cited for assault and subsequently released, with the officers assisting in arranging alternative travel for them.
This incident follows another recent occurrence involving a Frontier Airlines flight where a passenger was “voted” off the plane by fellow travelers due to a verbal altercation before takeoff.
The stricter legal enforcement policy against unruly passengers was implemented in January 2021 by former FAA Administrator Steve Dickson, who observed a concerning increase in such incidents.
Under this zero-tolerance policy, disruptive passengers face significant consequences as stated by the FAA.
The number of unruly passenger incidents has significantly decreased since 2021, with only 670 reported incidents so far in 2023 compared to nearly 6,000 previously.
In April, the FAA disclosed that over 250 severe cases were referred to the FBI for potential criminal prosecution since late 2021.