The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is taking legal action against an American Airlines passenger, Heather Wells, who caused chaos on a flight from Dallas to Charlotte on July 6, 2021. Wells attempted to open the front cabin door mid-flight, prompting flight attendants to duct tape her to a seat after she bit, kicked, and spat at staff and passengers. In 2022, the FAA fined Wells a record $81,950 in civil penalties. Now, the FAA has filed a lawsuit seeking to collect that money on their behalf.
According to the lawsuit filed in San Antonio, Wells had been drinking alcohol before the incident occurred. After having a neat Jack Daniel’s, she ran to the front of the plane and grabbed the handle of the front cabin door. She then began behaving incoherently with passengers, crawling back toward the main cabin, and threatening a flight attendant. Wells made a second attempt to reach the front door while yelling profanities, but two stewards restrained her. Despite being restrained with duct tape and flex cuffs, Wells continued to kick, spit, and attempt to bite and head-butt flight attendants and passengers.
Police were waiting on the Charlotte runway when the plane landed, but Wells remained disruptive even after landing. She had to be sedated and removed from the aircraft by law enforcement and medical responders. The lawsuit alleges that Wells violated federal aviation rules by trying to access the flight cabin, interfering with and threatening the flight crew, and posing an imminent threat to passengers and staff. It is unclear at this time if criminal charges have been filed by the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department.
The incident involving Heather Wells brings attention to the issue of unruly passengers on flights. As airlines deal with an increase in disruptive behavior, the FAA is cracking down on offenders and imposing hefty fines to deter such incidents in the future. The case also highlights the challenges faced by flight attendants who must handle such situations in the air to ensure the safety and security of passengers and crew members. In this case, the flight crew resorted to using duct tape, flex cuffs, and even sedation to control the unruly passenger.
The viral footage of the incident posted on TikTok captured the chaotic scene as passengers exited the flight while flight attendants calmly bid farewell. The lawsuit filed by the FAA details Wells’ aggressive and disruptive behavior, which required extreme measures to restrain and remove her from the aircraft. Such incidents serve as a reminder of the importance of following aviation regulations and guidelines to maintain a safe and orderly travel environment for all passengers. The legal action taken against Heather Wells sends a clear message that disruptive behavior on flights will not be tolerated and will be met with severe consequences.
