The FAA proposed a 165-thousand-dollar fine against Alaska Airlines for allegedly allowing intoxicated passengers to board aircraft.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched a notable enforcement process against Alaska Airlines. The agency proposed a 165-thousand-dollar fine against the company on the grounds that intoxicated passengers were allowed to board aircraft on numerous flights.
According to the FAA’s statement on Tuesday, the violations occurred on 11 separate flights operated between February 2024 and February 2025.
The agency emphasized that current aviation safety regulations clearly prohibit the acceptance of individuals who appear to be intoxicated on flights.
Alaska Airlines: “We Made the Necessary Changes”
Alaska Airlines stated that it fully cooperated with the FAA’s audit process.
In the company’s statement, it was noted that significant updates were made to safety procedures after the FAA shared its concerns.
The statement included the following remarks:
“Since the FAA shared these concerns with us more than a year ago, we have made significant changes to ensure full compliance with FAA expectations. This includes enhanced training for all flight attendants and customer service personnel.”
Alaska Airlines also stated that it believes the new procedures implemented over the past year meet shared safety standards.
FAA Tightened Inspections Recently
It is noteworthy that the FAA has recently increased its safety and inspection processes targeting U.S. airline companies.
Last month, the agency proposed fines due to violations in employee drug and alcohol testing procedures:
- 304 thousand dollars for Southwest Airlines,
- 255 thousand dollars for American Airlines.
The FAA alleged that both airlines failed to carry out follow-up drug and alcohol tests required for pilots, flight attendants, and maintenance technicians.
