Washington: More than three dozen "unruly" airline passengers have been reported to the FBI by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which has vowed to "aggressively" pursue criminal charges as part of a zero-tolerance policy.

The FAA reported on Tuesday that it had referred 22 more passengers to the government, bringing the total for this year to 39. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg issued a brief statement in which he issued a warning that "If you act out on an aeroplane, you can face criminal prosecution" and a fine of up to $37,000.

The most recent referrals, which cover incidents beginning in December 2021, cover a range of offences, with many passengers allegedly acting violently towards airline employees or other passengers.

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In addition to more serious offences like trying to enter the cockpit without authorization and making "terroristic threats," several other passengers were reported for "erratic behaviour" on board.

While one suspect is accused of texting other passengers a bomb threat, another is alleged to have only "smoked in the aircraft lavatory" while they were in the air. All could now be subject to fines, criminal charges, or both. 

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In response to a "rapid growth" in incidents that year, the FAA adopted a zero-tolerance policy in 2021, according to the agency. Approximately 6,000 disruptive passengers were reported in 2021 alone, a 492% increase from the previous year, according to federal statistics. However, the numbers have significantly decreased since then, with just 1,177 incidents so far this year and fewer than 2,500 in 2022.

In total, the government fined out-of-control flyers $8.4 million in 2022 as a result of 567 different law enforcement actions and more than 800 separate investigations. 

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The FAA had previously only used civil fines to deal with troublemakers, but as the number of cases increased in late 2021, Attorney General Merrick Garland instructed prosecutors nationwide to give criminal charges priority. 

A federal offence, interfering with an airline crew can result in harsh criminal penalties, such as up to 20 years in prison in extreme cases. If a member of the flight crew is assaulted or threatened with a deadly weapon, the sentence may be increased to life in prison. While a Massachusetts man accused of trying to stab an airline attendant in March with a broken spoon initially faced a life sentence, it was later determined that his mental illness rendered him incompetent for trial.