Not that "mask mandates" have anything to do with it.
You cram people together in the cattle-care environment of most airliners and what do you expect them to act like? Add on further annoyances like masks and it's mildly surprising that it doesn't happen on almost every flight.
“These incidents needlessly interrupt travel, delaying flights and other transportation operations across the country.”
They must be talking about airlines firing employees who refused to submit to pfascist mandatory vaccinations.