January 13, 2021 3:25 a.m.

Congressman Peter DeFazio is encouraging Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Stephen Dickson to protect the safety of airline crews and passengers amid civil unrest in Washington D.C. DeFazio wants him to limit the chance that commercial flights are used as a means of mass transportation to the capitol for further violence in connection with the inauguration.

DeFazio claims that last week there were multiple reports of incidents involving unruly passengers at the nation’s airports, both prior to and after the January 6th breach at the United States Capitol.

DeFazio reminded Dickson that Federal statutes and regulations authorize the FAA to pursue penalties for assaulting, intimidating, threatening, or interfering with an airline crewmember’s performance of their duties.

DeFazio wants Dickson to convene representatives from airlines, airports, and labor groups to develop a plan to facilitate information sharing on unruly passengers and to keep Congress informed of the FAA’s proposed course of action to deter future disruptions.

DeFazio is the Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.