The National Association of Airline Passengers executive director, Douglas Kidd, has expressed his concerns about the alarming 47 percent increase in unruly passenger incidents. The issue came to light when Air Canada employees successfully restrained a 16-year-old teenager who had allegedly attacked one of his own relatives during a flight from Toronto to Calgary. The plane was forced to divert to Winnipeg, where the suspect was arrested by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The victim received minor physical injuries and was treated on the scene. The motive behind the assault remains unknown.
This incident is just one example of a disturbing trend that has seen a historic spike in unruly passenger incidents throughout 2021. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) statistics reveal that the number of such reports never exceeded 1,200 between 2017 and 2020. However, in 2021, the number skyrocketed by a staggering 492%, reaching a total of 5,983 incidents.
Tyesha Best, a flight attendant at JetBlue Airways and president of the Orlando branch of the Transportation Workers Union Local 579, shared her firsthand experiences of dealing with obnoxious behaviors from passengers over the past few years. She recounted an incident in which a passenger urinated in front of others and hurled derogatory language at flight attendants. Best attributes the increase in unruly behavior to the added stress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In response to the escalating incidents, many airlines temporarily suspended the sale of alcohol on flights, recognizing it as a contributing factor to the aggressive behavior of customers. However, the issue persists, with unruly passenger reports still remaining above pre-pandemic levels.
The United States has taken federal action against violence on planes, with the FAA referring over 20 cases to the FBI for federal prosecution between December 2021 and April 2023. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the serious safety concerns posed by unruly behavior and warned that individuals who act out on an airplane can face criminal prosecution and fines of up to $37,000 per violation.
Flight attendants, like Best, are dedicated to ensuring the well-being of passengers and connecting them with their families. However, they also deserve a safe working environment. Assaults on flight attendants not only cause delays but also impact the overall operations of the airline industry.
The rise in unruly passenger incidents is a matter of grave concern for airline safety. Efforts need to be made to address this issue aggressively to ensure the safety and well-being of both passengers and crew.
