The Federal Aviation Administration has proposed fining Alaska Airlines $165,000 for allegedly allowing intoxicated passengers to board flights.
The agency said in a short statement Tuesday that the incidents occurred on 11 flights between February 2024 and February 2025. The agency did not provide details about the events. It did not immediately respond to an email seeking additional information.
Airlines are restricted from allowing anyone who appears intoxicated to board a flight, the agency said.
Alaska Airlines said in a statement that it takes “seriously our responsibility to provide a safe and secure environment for our guests and employees.”
“We participated fully with the FAA’s audit of our policies and practices as it relates to intoxicated guests on board our aircraft,” said the emailed statement, provided by spokesperson Tim Thompson.
“Since the FAA shared these concerns with us over a year ago, we made meaningful changes to ensure compliance with the FAA’s expectations — including enhanced training for all flight attendants and customer service agents,” the airline said. “We respect the results of the FAA’s audit and are confident in the changes that have been in place for the last year to ensure our shared standards are being met.”
The enforcement period does not cover an incident in December involving a person who is accused by federal law enforcement of opening a cabin door in midair on a flight between Deadhorse and Anchorage after he had been drinking for several days.
The airline has 30 days to respond to the agency, following receipt of the enforcement letter, the FAA said.
Generally, an airline can pay an FAA fine or challenge it, including by requesting an evidentiary hearing before an administrative law judge with the U.S. Department of Transportation, according to the law firm of Shackelford, McKinley & Norton in Dallas, which specializes in aviation litigation.
Alaska Airlines is yet to respond.