International Air Transport Association (IATA), which is the trade body of nearly 270 airlines worldwide, said unruly passenger incidents aboard aircraft increased in 2015.
IATA said some 10,854 unruly passenger incidents were reported to it by airlines worldwide last year.
This equates to one incident for every 1,205 flights, an increase from the 9,316 incidents reported in 2014 (or one incident for every 1,282 flights).
The majority of incidents involved verbal abuse, failure to follow lawful crew instructions and other forms of anti-social behavior.
A significant proportion (11%) of reports indicated physical aggression towards passengers or crew or damage to the aircraft.
Alcohol or drug intoxication was identified as a factor in 23% of cases, though in the vast majority of instances these were consumed prior to boarding or from personal supply without knowledge of the crew, IATA said.
In-air offenses range from physical assault to failing to follow lawful crew instructions, which include refusal to raise one’s seat back and tray table during takeoff and landing.
Passengers who interfere with crew duties or refuse to follow instructions to board or leave the aircraft, making threats that could affect the safety of the crew, passengers and aircraft, sexual abuse or harassment and other types of riotous behavior, which could jeopardise the safety or alter good order and discipline onboard are also unacceptable.
Obviously, such incidents mainly put families, especially those travelling with children, to lot of inconveniences and difficulties.
In 2014, the airline industry had set out core principles for a balanced, multi-stakeholder strategy for tackling unruly behavior, based around enhancing the international deterrent and more effective prevention and management of incidents.
In some countries, there has been a focus on the role of alcohol as a trigger for disruptive behaviour. Airlines already have strong guidelines and crew training on the responsible provision of alcohol, IATA said.
The global trade body of airlines said it is supporting initiatives, such as the code of practice pioneered in the UK, which includes a focus on prevention of intoxication and excessive drinking prior to boarding. Staff in airport bars and duty-free shops must be trained to serve alcohol responsibly and there is a need to avoid offers that encourage so-called ‘binge drinking’.
IATA’s director general and CEO Alexandre de Juniac said: “Unruly and disruptive behaviour is simply not acceptable. The anti-social behaviour of a tiny minority of customers can have unpleasant consequences for the safety and comfort of all on board. The increase in reported incidents tells us that more effective deterrents are needed.”
While excessive alcohol consumption is not the only cause for rising incidents involving unruly passengers, it is certainly a major reason.
And those who are booked for unruly behaviour onboard commercial aircraft must be dealt with sternly.
A stronger legal framework that airlines can rely upon globally would certainly have a strong deterrent effect on unruly passengers.
