DALLAS — Airlines say conflicts and unruly passenger behavior aboard flights are at an all-time high thanks in large part to arguments over mask mandates and other pandemic-related restrictions.
Some of these incidents have played out on social media in the form of viral videos leading some to ask about the use of Air Marshals or other law enforcement on planes.
THE QUESTION
Are Air Marshals used on charter flights?
THE SOURCE
The Transportation Security Administration
THE ANSWER
Yes, Air Marshals are still used on flights, but not all of them.
WHAT WE FOUND
The TSA responded to our inquiry by saying Federal Air Marshals have been used since 2002 on US air carriers and are still part of their overall efforts to make air travel safe.
The marshals are federal law enforcement officers trained to respond to criminal and terrorist threats.
However, with thousands of flights daily throughout the country, TSA said they use a “threat-based matrix” to strategically deploy and place marshals on flights.