Can the FAA fine people?

Civil Penalty Actions § 13.14 or § 13.18. The FAA has authority to issue orders assessing a civil penalty of up to $400,000 against persons other than individuals and small business concerns and up to $50,000 against individuals and small business concerns.



Yes, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has the legal authority to issue significant civil penalties (fines) against individuals, pilots, and airlines for violating federal aviation regulations. In 2026, the FAA has become particularly aggressive with fines for unruly passenger behavior, which can reach up to $37,000 per violation. They also frequently fine drone operators for flying in restricted airspace (like near airports or stadiums) and pilots for maintenance or safety lapses. Beyond unruly behavior, the FAA can issue fines for "interference with a crewmember," which is a federal crime. These fines are civil, meaning they are monetary penalties, but the FAA also coordinates with the Department of Justice for criminal prosecution in extreme cases. For airlines, the fines can be in the millions, as seen in 2026 with multi-million dollar penalties proposed against carriers for maintenance documentation failures or safety oversight gaps.

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The FAA can seek fines of up to $37,000 against unruly passengers, but it lacks authority to file criminal charges; that is why the agency refers some cases to the FBI.

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We issue and enforce regulations and minimum standards covering manufacturing, operating, and maintaining aircraft. We certify airmen and airports that serve air carriers. The safe and efficient use of navigable airspace is one of our primary objectives.

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States and local governments may not regulate in the fields of aviation safety or airspace efficiency but generally may regulate outside those fields. A state or local law will be preempted if it conflicts with FAA regulations.

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The Subcommittee on Aviation has jurisdiction over all aspects of civil aviation, including safety, infrastructure, labor, commerce, and international issues. All programs of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), except for research activities, are within the purview of the Subcommittee.

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Legal Enforcement Actions by the FAA can take the form of revocation, suspension, or monetary penalties which will remain on your record for five years. With Legal Enforcement Actions, airmen have extensive appellate rights.

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The lawsuit against the FAA was filed in a district court in Washington, D.C., by five plaintiffs: The Center for Biological Diversity, the American Bird Conservancy, SurfRider Foundation, Save Rio Grande Valley and a cultural-heritage organization, the Carrizo-Comecrudo Nation of Texas.

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However, FAA does not govern military aircraft. The military has their own rules and regulations, but the military follows FAA regulations when flying in National Airspace.

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(d) No pilot may fly more than 32 hours during any seven consecutive days, and each pilot must be relieved from all duty for at least 24 consecutive hours at least once during any seven consecutive days. (e) No pilot may fly as a member of a crew more than 100 hours during any one calendar month.

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You are allowed to bring a quart-sized bag of liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes through the checkpoint. These are limited to 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less per item. This is also known as the 3-1-1 liquids rule.

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