The recent episode where Ivanka Trump and her family were verbally assaulted by a man on a JetBlue flight from JFK to SFO highlights a serious problem which has developed over the years in commercial aviation.  Namely, people being allowed to interfere with crew members while they are performing their duties, whether in flight or on the ground.  The Federal regulation which covers this is:

49 U.S. Code § 46504 – Interference with flight crew members and attendants

An individual on an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States who, by assaulting or intimidating a flight crew member or flight attendant of the aircraft, interferes with the performance of the duties of the member or attendant or lessens the ability of the member or attendant to perform those duties, or attempts or conspires to do such an act, shall be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than 20 years, or both. However, if a dangerous weapon is used in assaulting or intimidating the member or attendant, the individual shall be imprisoned for any term of years or for life.

(Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1244; Pub. L. 107–56, title VIII, § 811(i), Oct. 26, 2001, 115 Stat. 382.)

The process of boarding is a very important phase of flight.  That is the opportunity for the flight attendants to assure that carry-on items are properly stowed, and to observe the passengers for any unusual or unacceptable behavior.  This is very important in this age of terrorism.  When I was the Captain, I always informed the F/A’s of that fact, and assured them that I would take ANY incidents very seriously, and fully support them if I determined that the “Code” had been violated.  I had the above code printed in larger size print and sealed in a plastic sheet.  If a F/A reported a problem dealing with an unruly (not threatening, that’s a completely different matter) passenger, I would give them the sheet and tell them to ask the passenger to read it.  I told them to inform the passenger that if I had to leave the cockpit to deal with them in person I would have them removed from the flight by law enforcement, and would personally press charges.  This in effect “Read them their rights”.  In my opinion many Captains have given up their granted and mandated authority and responsibility in these matters.   If the law was enforced, I feel that these incidents would be greatly reduced or eliminated.