U.S. Department 

of Transportation 

Federal Aviation 

Administration 

In Reply 

Refer to: 

July 21, 2014 

AGL-7K 

2014-GL-33-0029 

CERTIFIED MAIL 

Hearing Docket, Federal Aviation Administration 

Attention: Hearing Docket Clerk, AGC-430 

Wilber Wright Building- Suite 2Wl 000 

800 Independence Avenue, S.W. 

Washington, DC 20591 

Great Lakes Region 

2300 East Devon Avenue 

Des Plaines, Illinois 60018-4696 

84 7 294-7713 

RECEIVED 

JUL 3 0 2C14 

HEARING DOCKET 

Re: 

FAA Case No.: 

Ankitrarneshchandra Vyas 

2014-GL-33-0029 

Enclosed herewith please find the original and one copy of the Complaint in the abovereferenced proceeding. The FAA requests that the hearing in this matter be held in Chicago, 

Illinois, and expects that the hearing will last one day. 

Please address all communications for the FAA to the undersigned at: 

Chris G. Zurales 

Federal Aviation Administration 

Great Lakes Region, AGL-7K 

2300 East Devon Avenue 

Des Plaines, IL 60018-4696 

Phone (84 7) 294-7713 

Fax (847) 294-7498 

Sincere! 

Senior Attorney 

Enclosures: Request for Hearing and Complaint 

cc: Respondent (w/copy of Complaint) 
U. S. Department 

of Transportation 

Federal Aviation 

Administration 

In Reply 

Refer to: 

July 21,2014 

AGL-7K 

2014-GL-33-0029 

CERTIFIED MAIL 

Mr. Ankitrameshchandra Vyas 

44040 Laurel Canyon Way 

Fremont, CA 94539 

Great Lakes Region 

2300 East Devon Avenue 

Des Plaines, Illinois 60018-4696 

847 294-7713 

RECEIVED 

JUL 3 0 2014 

HEARING DOCKET 

Re: Ankitrameshchandra Vyas 

FAA Case No.: 2014-GL-33-0029 

Dear Mr. Vyas: JO\Y- 0410 

Enclosed herewith please find one copy each of the transmittal letter and the complaint in the 

above-referenced proceeding. 

The FAA has requested that the hearing in this matter be held in Chicago, Illinois, and expects 

that the hearing will last one day. 

You must file a written answer to the Complaint not later than thirty (30) days after service of the 

Complaint. Service is defined in Section 13.211 of the Rules of Practice in FAA Civil Penalty 

Actions (14 C.P.R. Section 13.211), a copy of which was sent to you with the Notice of Proposed 

Civil Penalty. The answer must be dated and signei:l in accordance with Section 13.209 of the 

Rules of Practice (14 C.P.R. Section 13.209). 

Enclosures: Transmittal Letter 

Request for Hearing 

Complaint 
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Office of Hearings 

Washington, D.C. 

______ RECEIVED 

Ankitrameshchandra Vyas 

FAA DOCKET NO. CP*not yet assigned* 

(EIR 2014-GL-33-0029) 

(Civil Penalty Action) 

Administrative Law Judge *not yet assigned* 

FD\'Y\ 'S '. d C) \ y, - 0 t_( \ () 

COMPLAINT 

JUL 3 0 2014 

HEARING DOCKET 

On June 27,2014, Respondent Ankitrameshchandra Vyas, (Vyas) was advised through a Final 

Notice of Proposed Civil Penalty that the FAA proposed to assess a civil penalty in the amount 

of$7,000.00, waiving payment of$3,000.00 based on Vyas inability to pay. Vyas, has submitted 

a written request for a hearing, postmarked July 11,2014, which was received by the Agency 

Attorney on June 15,2010. 

I 

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), by counsel, hereby files its Complaint, pursuant to 

Rule 208 of the Rules of Practice (14 C.F.R. 13.208), and states as follows: 

1. On November 1, 2013, Vyas was a passenger on board an aircraft being operated by 

United Air Lines, Inc. (UAL), under Part 121 of the Federal Aviation Regulations, as 

UAL Flight 1206, from La Guardia Airport (LGA), New York, New York, to O'Hare 

International Airport (ORD), Chicago, Illinois. (the flight). 
2. Before departure announcements were made, by a member of the crew, instructing 

passengers to remain in their seats with their seat belt fastened any time the fasten seat 

belt sign was illuminated. 

3. During the flight, as Flight 1206 was descending into the Chicago area, the pilot in 

command of the flight illuminated the fasten seat belt signs and an announcement was 

made for passengers to take their seats and fasten their seat belt. 

2 

4. After the fasten seat belt signs were illuminated and the announcement referred to in 

paragraph 3 were made Vyas left his seat and accessed the overhead storage bin. (the first 

violation). 

5. In response to Vyas' failure to comply with the fasten seat belt instruction, another 

announcement was made for him to return to his seat and fasten his seat belt. (the first 

warning). 

6. Althov.gh Vyas took his seat in response to the first warning, he got up from his 

seat again while the fasten seat belt sign was illuminated. (the second violation) 

7. In response to his second violation a member of the cabin crew left their position 

seated with a safety belt to direct him back to his seat. (the second warning) 

8. Although Vyas took his seat in response to the second warning, he got up from his 

seat again while the fasten seat belt sign was illuminated multiple times and was 

warned again and again. (the third and subsequent violations and the third and 

subsequent warnings) 

9. A number of times that Vyas left his seat incident to the third and subsequent 

violations, he moved toward the front of the aircraft and the flight deck. 
10. As a result of his persistent and continued violations and his repeated movement 

toward the flight deck during the approach to landing phase of flight, the flight 

deck was called and assumed a heightened level of security and law enforcement 

was called to respond upon landing. 

11. Vyas's conduct as described above interfered with the crewmembers, including 

the cabin crew and flight deck crew, ofUAL Flight 1206 in the performance of 

their duties aboard the aircraft. 

12. Vyas has demonstrated that he is unable to pay the $7,000.00 civil penalty 

originally proposed. 

By reason of the foregoing facts and circumstances, Vyas violated the fo~lowing Federal 

Aviation Regulations: 

a. Section 121.317(f) which states in relevant part that each passenger shall 

fasten his or her safety belt about him or her and keep it fastened while the 

"Fasten Seat Belt" sign is lighted. 

b. Section 121.317(k), which states that each passenger shall comply with 

instructions given him or her by a crewmember regarding compliance with 

paragraphs (f), (g), (h), and (I) of this section. 

c. Section 121.580 which states that no person may assault, threaten, 

intimidate, or interfere with a crewmember in the performance of the 

crewmember's duties aboard an aircraft being operated under this part. 

3 
II 

I. Pursuant to Title 49 of the United States Code, Section 46301 (49 U.S.C. § 46301), Vyas is 

subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $11,000.00 for each violation alleged. 

2. Under the facts and circumstances of this case, a civil penalty of $7,000.00 is appropriate. 

4 

STATEMENT OF WAIVER OF PENALTY: The FAA has determined that Vyas is entitled 

to a partial waiver of penalty by reason of his demonstrated inability to pay the civil penalty as 

originally proposed. Accordingly, the civil penalty sought in this complaint, although remaining 

a matter of record, will not actually be imposed. Based on Vyas's inability to pay the civil 

penalty, the FAA will waive payment of any amount assessed greater than $4,000.00. 

WHEREFORE, the Agency, by counsel, respectfully requests that the Administrative 

Law Judge enter an Order that Respondent Vyas be assessed a civil penalty in the amount of 

$7,000.00. 

Respectfully submitted this 21st day of July 2014. 

-Chris ~~- G. Zurales 

Senior Attorney 

Federal Aviation Admiriistration 

Great Lakes Region, AGL-7K 

2300 East Devon Avenue 

Des Plaines, IL 60018 

Phone: (847) 294-7713 

Fax: (847) 294-7498 
Certificate of Service 

I hereby certify that the foregoing Complaint has been mailed this 21st day of July 2014, by 

Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested, to: 

Original and One Copy to: 

Hearing Docket 

Federal Aviation Administration 

800 Independence Avenue, S. W. 

Room 924A 

Washington, DC 20591 

(Attn: Hearing Docket Clerk) 

One Copy to: 

Mr. Ankitrameshchandra Vyas 

44040 Laurel Canyon Way 

Fremont, CA 94539 

Dated this 21'1 day of July 2014. 

Karen Staten 

Paralegal 

Office of the Regional Counsel 

FAA Great Lakes Region 

5 
Mr. Je£frey A Klang 

Mr. Chris G. Zurales 

Re£erence to: 

~··\ 

44040 Laurel Canyon Way 

Fremont CA I 94539 

~inal Notice of Proposed Ci~il Penalty 

AGL - 7K 

2014 - GL- 33 - 0029 

I am writing to elect a 

proposed civil penalty. 

hearing to take place? 

Ankit Vyas 

request £or a formal hearing regarding the 

What are the possible venues £or this