9.23.21 – APFA Flight Attendant Teddy Andrews Testifies Before Congress On Air Rage

Thursday, September 23, 2021

APFA Flight Attendant Teddy Andrews Testifies Before Congress on Air Rage

This morning, one of our own, CLT-based Flight Attendant Teddy Andrews, testified before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation. At the hearing, titled Disruption in the Skies: The Surge in Air Rage and its Effects on Workers, Airlines, and Airports, Teddy recounted his personal experiences with air rage and unruly passengers.

“Disrespect, threats, verbal abuse, and even physical assault directed at flight crew have sadly become all too common. We have been insulted and assaulted by passengers in different ways and on many separate occasions, simply for adhering to our responsibilities.

Flight Attendants came to work when everyone else was told to stay home. Then, when the demand for air travel dropped off steeply, we worried about our job security. Now, Flight Attendants are in a third phase of this crisis, worried and anxious about our safety simply by coming to work and fulfilling our job responsibilities. Flight Attendants have been offered voluntary self-defense training, which was first introduced after the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Today, we find ourselves in an environment where we may need to employ these skills. The problem that must be solved is how we can prevent these situations from escalating to that point.

This type of environment makes it difficult for Flight Attendants to perform our duties as safety professionals. Medical emergencies, onboard fires, security threats, and emergency evacuations are all situations in which we are prepared to encounter every time we come to work. But now, our most immediate danger, and our biggest distraction, is the number of incidents we find ourselves having to deescalate. I believe that passengers who so willfully cause disruptions, who show no regard for our policies and personnel, put all others in danger.

These days I come to work expecting some form of disrespect or air rage. We cannot combat this issue without solid coordination at the federal level. We must ensure that passengers have clear expectations and strong consequences for their behavior in flight. One more air rage event—one more Flight Attendant who is singled out, threatened, or assaulted—is one too many.” -Teddy Andrews, CLT-based Flight Attendant.

Read Teddy’s Full Testimony Here

APFA will continue to work with other Unions, airline industry stakeholders and government officials to deter and appropriately punish air rage. Flight Attendants should not have to fear for our safety simply by coming to work.

Thank you for representing APFA and your colleagues today, Teddy. We are proud of you.

In Solidarity,

Allie Malis
APFA Government Affairs Representative

Lori Glattly
APFA Government Affairs Representative

[email protected]