An American Airlines passenger is facing major turmoil after failing to pay an $82,000 fine levied against him for erratic behavior on board a 2021 flight, including trying to open the cabin door mid-flight and becoming violent with a flight attendant.
Heather Wells, 34, is being sued by the Federal Aviation Administration for failing to pay $81,950 in civil penalties for her conduct on board American Airlines Flight 1774, which flew from Dallas, Texas, to Charlotte, North Carolina, between July 6 and 7, 2021.
Wells’ bizarre behavior began about an hour into the flight, after he was served a straight Jack Daniel’s during drink service.
“(Wells) became increasingly agitated and said he wanted to get off the plane.” The San Antonio Express-News reported. “She left her seat and began to move/run toward the rear of the aircraft and then dropped to her knees in the aisle.”
Wells, who was flying business class from San Antonio, began an incoherent conversation with another passenger before crawling back down the aisle to the main cabin.
A flight attendant greeted the distraught passenger and attempted to intervene, but Wells threatened to “hurt him,” shoved the flight attendant aside and continued toward the front of the plane.
She then screamed and yelled foul language and tried to grab the handle of the cabin door.
It took two flight attendants and one passenger to restrain Wells, and during the struggle, Wells struck one of the flight attendants multiple times in the head.
“Flight attendants and passengers were eventually able to restrain the defendant with duct tape and flex cuffs and place him in his seat,” the lawsuit continues.
“After he was seated, the defendant continued to kick, spit, bite and headbutt flight attendants and passengers. As a result, the defendant had to be further restrained with tape over his mouth as well as his seat, but this did not stop him from screaming and swearing throughout the flight.”
Video posted on social media showed a woman with green dyed hair having her mouth covered with duct tape, handcuffed behind her back and restrained in her seat.
During the flight, the pilot radioed Charlotte to request that police be ready upon arrival at the airport.
As the plane taxied toward the gate, Wells managed to free both of her legs from the restraints and began kicking again, forcing passengers and flight attendants to restrain her until police could board the plane.
Officers decided to let the remaining passengers off the bus before removing Wells.
“The defendant continued to kick violently, breaking the seat in front of him,” the lawsuit states. “Police and medical personnel were ultimately required to sedate the defendant and remove him from the aircraft.”
Wells was taken to the hospital, but no criminal charges were filed, according to the Express-News.
The lawsuit alleges that Wells violated federal aviation regulations by attempting to enter the aircraft, obstructing and threatening flight crew, and feigning an imminent threat to the safety of the aircraft and passengers.
She has been subpoenaed to respond to the lawsuit, which seeks payment of $81,950 in penalties the FAA assessed against her in 2022, the largest fine ever levied by the FAA.
This week, the Department for Transport revealed that incidents of disruptive passenger behaviour continued to rise in 2024.
“Between Jan. 1, 2024 and June 9, 2024, there were 915 incidents of passenger disruption, including 106 incidents of intoxicated passenger disruption,” the FAA said in a statement Wednesday. “Travelers will pay the price for bad behavior. In response to the spike in incidents, the FAA implemented a zero tolerance policy on Jan. 13, 2021, imposing fines in lieu of warning letters or counseling.”
Passengers who break the rules face civil penalties of up to $37,000 per violation.
