Unruly passenger incidents on aircraft had increased in 2022 compared with 2021, Iata said in a press release.

There was one incident reported for every 568 flights in 2022, up from one per 835 flights in 2021.

The most common incident categorisations are:

• Non-compliance such as smoking; failure to fasten seatbelts; exceeding the carry-on baggage allowance or failing to store baggage when required; consumption of own alcohol on board.
• Verbal abuse.
• Intoxication.

Physical abuse incidents remain rare, but they did increase by 61% over 2021, occurring once every 17 200 flights. This increasing aggression even includes threats to kill.

Regulations

According to Iata, the strategy to reduce unruly passenger incidents revolves around regulations and guidance, each of which has several elements.

It is important that governments and airlines have the necessary legal authority to prosecute unruly passengers, regardless of the state of aircraft registration, and a range of enforcement measures that reflect the severity of the incident. For this to happen jurisdictional gaps must be eradicated.

The best solution is getting more countries to sign up for Montreal Protocol 14 (MP14), which gives states the necessary legal powers. Towards the end of June 2023, 45 nations comprising 33% of international passenger traffic had ratified MP14.  

“The ratification rate is accelerating and there is a strong pipeline with countries in an advanced stage toward ratification,” said Tim Colehan, Iata Assistant Director of External Affairs.

But ratifying MP14 and removing jurisdictional gaps is not a silver bullet. Enforcement action must be taken against those who disrupt flights, and countries are now responding within national regulations.

France has extended civil and administrative penalties to cover unruly incidents on flights that are more effective against less serious infractions. Other countries are considering replicating them.

The US, meanwhile, has taken a zero-tolerance approach. If a crew member or other passenger is threatened or assaulted, then there will be action taken against the offender. In 2022, US$8.4m in fines was issued, with the most serious cases referred to the FBI to pursue criminal prosecutions.

Although many airlines maintain individual lists of banned unruly passengers, the concept of government-administered lists is more nuanced. Although this is a useful deterrent, efforts in other areas will likely yield better results in the short term.

The main problem with bans is that data protection laws make it difficult for airlines to share information. And individual bans can be circumvented with name changes and new passports.

China and India are among the countries that have national bans and government-controlled lists of unruly passengers in place, but a lot of work needs to be done.

“Bans can be an effective deterrent, especially when airlines legally share that information. But there are challenges to improving the existing situation and, for the moment, focusing our efforts elsewhere will be more beneficial,” added Colehan.

Guidance

Preventing or de-escalating incidents remains the preferred option. Airports and civil authorities do take the unruly passenger problem seriously and there are examples of collaboration and awareness campaigns throughout the world.

In the UK, for example, the ‘One Too Many’ campaign comprises duty-free companies, police, restaurants, bars, and airports in a concerted communications effort. As part of this, World Duty-Free puts alcohol in sealed bags with messages advising customers not to open them until they reach their destination.

“The Irish Aviation Authority has a similar declaration, and a lot is being done in Norway and other countries too. It is encouraging that all stakeholders are collaborating to ensure that nobody is unnecessarily contributing to the unruly passenger problem,” said Jonathan Jasper, Iata Senior Manager for Cabin Safety.

Sharing best practices for de-escalating incidents through manuals and training is equally vital. Iata issued a new guidance document at the beginning of 2022 containing advice for airline crews and some practical solutions for governments on public awareness and fixing jurisdictional gaps.

Training, meanwhile, has taken on increased importance following the disruption caused by the pandemic.

“There are a lot of new crew that don’t have the experience or life skills to deal with some incidents. And even experienced crew missed a lot of flight time and then had mask mandates to handle. Training is constantly being re-evaluated to give all crew the best possible skills to deal with post-pandemic unruly passengers. This includes spotting behaviours before they escalate,” added Jasper.

There is also far better support for crew following incidents. Mental health and wellbeing are increasingly important, and Jasper said airlines were investing in this critical area.

“There is no excuse for unruly behaviour. It is not just about respect for other passengers and the crew, it is about safety – always the industry’s top priority. 
The increasing trend of physical abuse is particularly worrying, and governments must enforce the law and penalise offenders. Passengers and crew are entitled to a safe and hassle-free experience on board,” concluded Jasper.