Congress has added substantial monetary penalties as a remedy for whistleblower retaliation related to aviation safety violations. The penalties appear in the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR21), which protects employees, contractors, and subcontractors of air carriers from retaliation for reporting aviation safety violations. The legislation, which Congress approved in May 2024 to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Act, creates new civil penalties up to $1.2 million for violations of whistleblower laws. It would not be surprising if whistleblower advocates push for similar penalties under other laws.
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