The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is seeking a civil penalty of about $ 27,500 against a passenger accused of hitting a flight attendant in the face after being asked to leave the plane.
The agency said Friday that a female passenger who was on a Delta Air Lines flight traveling to Atlanta from Miami initiated a verbal altercation when she and her companion were asked to disembark the flight after the passenger male refused to wear a mask, The Associated Press reported.
The man also refused to fasten his seat belt or close the tray table, the agency said.
When the aircraft returned to the door for the two to leave, according to the news release, the woman allegedly started calling the passengers and the flight attendant, who finally hit her under the left eye.
The FAA did not identify the passengers involved in the incident, but said the woman has 30 days to respond to the sentence, the AP reported. According to the FAA, the woman allegedly violated federal regulations against assaulting a crew member.
According to the AP, the crime can carry a civil penalty of up to $ 35,000.
Last month, the FAA announced more stringent enforcement of sanctions on unruly passengers.