Court records, news reports

FAA Sues Heather Wells for Unpaid $81,950 Fine, Largest-Ever for Unruly Incident on American Airlines Flight

Jun 15, 2024, 06:18 PM

Heather Wells, a 34-year-old passenger from San Antonio, is being sued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for failing to pay an $81,950 fine. The lawsuit, filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas, stems from a July 2021 incident on an American Airlines flight from Dallas to Charlotte. Wells, who was flying business class, became increasingly agitated after ordering a drink, attempted to open the front cabin door mid-flight, and attacked a flight attendant. She was eventually secured with duct tape and sedated. The $81,950 fine is the largest-ever issued by the FAA for unruly behavior on a flight.