WASHINGTON The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Tuesday said it has referred 39 unruly passengers to the FBI for criminal investigation in 2023.

The new referrals, which include 22 in the three months ending June 30, brings the total of such referrals for violent and threatening incidents onboard planes to more than 270 since late 2021.

The rate of unruly passenger incidents has dropped by over 80% since record highs in early 2021, the FAA said.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Mark Porter)