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Alaska Airlines Faces Potential Fine Over ‘Intoxicated’ Passengers

Carrier has made changes to its policies following FAA audit.

Alaska Airlines is among the employers hiring pilots this week.
An Alaska Airlines aircraft [Credit: Adobe Stock/IanDewarPhotography]
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Key Takeaways:

  • The FAA has proposed a $165,000 civil penalty against Alaska Airlines for allegedly allowing 11 intoxicated passengers to board flights between February 2024 and February 2025.
  • FAA regulations prohibit airlines from allowing visibly intoxicated individuals to board an aircraft, with flight crews and gate agents trained to identify signs of intoxication.
  • Alaska Airlines stated it takes passenger and employee safety seriously, has participated in the FAA's audit, and has implemented enhanced training and made "meaningful changes" over the past year to comply with standards.
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The FAA has proposed a $165,000 civil penalty against Alaska Airlines for allegedly allowing intoxicated passengers to board its flights.

According to a statement released by the agency on Tuesday, there were 11 incidents of intoxicated individuals flying on the Seattle-based carrier between February 2024 and February 2025.

Meg Godlewski

Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.

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