Australian Man Pleads Guilty To Assaulting LAX TSA Officer, To Be Sentenced Next Month

Published Aug 19, 2026, 1:49 PM EDT Louis is a military historian and the staff writer for History of War magazine, a leading military history monthly. He also has an interest in private and commercial aviation. An Australian national, Thomas Bingham, has pleaded guilty to a Class A misdemeanor for an assault on a federal officer. He was alleged to have committed the assault on a Transport Security Administration (TSA) officer at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in March 2026. Sentencing has been set for September 18. US Magistrate Judge Charles F. Eick will preside over the sentencing, which could be nine years behind bars. Unruly passenger reports have significantly declined since the return of aviation after the pandemic, although they haven't yet reached full pre-pandemic levels. This case shows that even as assaults on federal officers and aviation staff decline, they can still have substantial consequences for both the perpetrator and the victim. The Alleged Assault Led To A Medical Evaluation Credit: Shutterstock Bingham's assault allegedly occurred on March 15 between Terminals Six and Seven at LAX, as reported by My News LA. Bingham spotted an on-duty and uniformed TSA officer leaving a restroom. The Australian was in LAX for a layover during his flight to Harry Reid International Airport (LAS). Bingham approached the officer and accused him of taking his backpack and passport. He reacted aggressively, grabbing the officer's uniform, pulling on the TSA lanyard around the officer's neck, pulling the officer's hair, and shoving him against a glass wall. Such was the severity of this assault that the TSA officer continued to experience significant pain in his hand and back, leading him to seek medical evaluation. The US Justice Department says that airport police put Bingham under arrest. His bag and passport were then found in a Terminal Seven restaurant. Bingham had visited the business earlier. Bingham was released from custody, before being arrested again at LAX while boarding a flight to the United Kingdom. Simple Flying has approached the TSA for a comment on the Bingham incident. Unruly Passenger Incidents Have Been Declining Since 2021 Credit: Shutterstock Incidents like Bingham's alleged assault reached a record high in 2021. Across this year, there were 5,973 unruly passenger reports, up 492% from the previous year as commercial aviation returned after the pandemic, according to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) data. March 2021 was the busiest month with 720 reported incidents. The table below shows the FAA data on unruly passenger reports over the last nine years: Year Unruly passenger reports Percentage change 2017 544 N/A 2018 889 63% 2019 1,161 31% 2020 1,009 -13% 2021 5,973 492% 2022 2,453 -59% 2023 2,074 -15% 2024 2,096 1% 2025 1,621 -23% 2026 (as of August 16) 1,090 N/A To break down the data further, of the 1,090 incidents reported so far, investigations have been initiated in 81 cases. The next step, enforcement action, has been initiated 69 times. $1,400,000 million in fines have been charged as a result. We will have to wait until the September sentencing to know the contribution Bingham will be making to this total. Airlines And Authorities Pursuing Legal Convictions Is The Answer Credit: Shutterstock The whole aviation industry will be advocating for a firm sentence for Bingham, because the decline in unruly passenger incidents in recent years has been directly tied to harsh consequences. According to then-IATA Director General Willie Walsh, airlines have become increasingly aggressive against unruly passengers in seeking convictions and financial compensation. "We've seen more and more airlines take very strong action against anybody who disrupts flights," he said, as reported by Simple Flying. Previously, carriers were reluctant to pursue such action. These legal measures are often costly and time-consuming. Bingham's alleged assault on the TSA officer was not connected to a specific airline. However, this sentencing and airlines' preparedness to demand legal action in other cases are all part of creating an environment where passengers are highly motivated to stay out of trouble.