FAR 91.702 — Persons On Board
FAR 91.702 extends the crewmember interference rules to all persons on board aircraft operated outside the U.S. Key takeaways for pilot students.
FAR 91.702 is a short but important rule found in Subpart H of Part 91, which covers foreign aircraft operations and operations of U.S.-registered aircraft outside of the United States.
It simply extends the reach of § 91.11 — Prohibitions on Interference with Crewmembers to every person on board the aircraft. In other words:
- No person on board may assault, threaten, intimidate, or interfere with a crewmember performing their duties.
- This applies to passengers and any other occupants, not just the flight crew.
- It applies even when the aircraft is being operated outside the United States, closing what could otherwise be a jurisdictional gap.
Operationally, this matters because it gives the pilot in command clear regulatory backing to maintain order in the cabin on international flights. Unruly passenger behavior is not just a safety issue — it is a direct violation of the FARs, regardless of where the flight takes place.