The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is suing Heather Wells, a Texas woman, for $81,950 in civil penalties due to violent behavior, including hitting and spitting on a flight attendant during an American Airlines flight in July 2021.

Incident Overview

Heather Wells was a business class passenger on American Airlines flight AA 1774, a two-and-a-half-hour journey from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport to Charlotte Douglas International Airport. According to a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas on June 3, about an hour into the flight, Wells ordered an alcoholic beverage and became increasingly agitated, expressing a desire to “get out” of the plane.

Wells left her seat, ran toward the back of the plane, and fell to her knees, where she began talking incoherently to other passengers before crawling back toward the main cabin. When a flight attendant approached her, she became verbally aggressive, threatened to harm him, and then physically pushed him.

Escalating Aggression and Restraint

Wells returned to the front of the aircraft and attempted to open the front cabin door while screaming and yelling profanities. Two crew members and a passenger restrained her, but during the altercation, she hit a flight attendant multiple times in the head. She was then restrained to her seat with duct tape and flex cuffs but continued to kick, spit, and attempt to bite and head-butt the flight attendant and passengers. To contain her, the tape was placed over her mouth.

Despite the chaos, the flight continued to Charlotte instead of diverting. Upon landing, Wells broke free from her restraints, kicked violently, and broke the seat in front of her while continuing to yell profanities. Once all passengers had deplaned, Wells was sedated for removal from the aircraft.

FAA’s Response to Unruly Passengers

Wells faces civil penalties of up to $45,000 for assaulting and threatening crew members and posing an imminent threat to the aircraft’s safety, $27,950 for attempting to open the cabin door in-flight, and $9,000 for interfering with the crew member’s duties. The FAA released a statement on Wednesday emphasizing its commitment to cracking down on unruly passengers, stating, “Travelers will pay for misbehaving.” The agency has reported 915 cases of unruly passengers so far this year, with 106 related to intoxication.

American Airlines did not immediately comment on the incident. The FAA’s action against Wells highlights the growing concern over disruptive behavior on flights and the agency’s determination to enforce strict penalties to maintain safety and order in the skies.