In recent months, airlines have confronted a troubling surge in in-flight disturbances, prompting calls for solutions to what many describe as an escalating crisis. Perhaps the most infamous of these incidents was a man who unsuccessfully opened an emergency exit door mid-flight aboard an Alaska Airlines plane. The crew acted swiftly, using duct tape to secure him to his seat. This stunning misconduct occurs just months after the airline had to pay a hefty $1.6 billion fine. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently announced its largest penalty ever—$81,950—against a woman for allegedly physically assaulting crew members and attempting to circumvent security measures on a flight.
These incidents serve as examples of the type of dangerous and aggressive behavior passengers have exhibited recently, dominating the news cycle. In 2022, airline employees—including pilots and flight attendants—submitted hundreds of thousands of reports to the ASRS. These documents covered verbal abuse, physical violence, sexual harassment—everything top to bottom.
The FAA’s heightened enforcement focus and the record penalties imposed are signs of how grave these incidents are. Michael O’Leary, CEO of Ryanair, observed a direct line between alcohol and drugs and terrifying temper tantrums in the air. He emphasized that the new reality for many passengers is just how much they’re combining that alcohol with tablets and powders. This combination creates a perfect storm for aggressive behavior and is difficult to combat.
“In the old days, people who drank too much would eventually fall over or fall asleep. But now those passengers are also on tablets and powder. It’s the mix. You get much more aggressive behavior that becomes very difficult to manage,” – Michael O’Leary.
Airlines are in the strongest financial shape they’ve ever been. Retails and others are keenly aware that terrible customer service might be helping to drive this new passenger rowdiness. According to aviation expert Vieraitis, the lack of attention to customer needs can lead to frustration and disruptive behavior among passengers.
“You can’t kick somebody out of the bar,” – Vieraitis.
The situation has prompted discussions about alcohol service at airports, particularly regarding first and business-class seats where unlimited alcohol is often available. Passengers frequently report that after a drink or two, their anxiety about flying is alleviated. Another report states it makes them sleep better on the plane. This recurring practice is deeply troubling in both its safety implications and its impact on passenger behavior.
Given these times, O’Leary has proposed a two-drink-max rule at airports to prevent over-consumption before flying. Airlines like Ryanair have received complaints from cabin crew members about chronic problems with intoxicated travelers on flights to popular party destinations such as Ibiza.
“It’s completely unfair that airports can profit from the unlimited sale of alcohol to passengers and leave the airlines to deal with the safety consequences,” – Kenny Jacobs.
A recent occurrence with an off-duty pilot should serve to drive home how serious this matter is. Disruption spilled onto Alaska Airlines flight 1182 due to crew and cabin conflict created by the pilot. The incident led to renewed demands for stricter enforcement and regulation of airline employees. Amelia Mularz, a flight attendant on that flight, highlighted the frustrations faced by crew members when dealing with intoxicated passengers.
“The flight attendants said they were annoyed with the gate agent for not flagging the drunk passenger to begin with,” – Amelia Mularz.
The Association of Professional Flight Attendants union spokesperson emphasized that flight attendants are trained professionals equipped to handle such situations. They noted that inflight disruptions are intolerable.
“Flight attendants are highly trained safety professionals equipped with de-escalation techniques to manage disruptive passengers and protect everyone onboard,” – Association of Professional Flight Attendants union spokesperson.
Gates to the jet bridge with passengers intent on retribution. Incidents with unruly passengers are increasing. In response, airlines are reconsidering how they serve alcohol and engage with customers. As noted on MADD’s blog, many advocates have recently been urging for stricter measures that would discourage excessive drinking before a flight. They further demand improved training for employees to de-escalate challenging scenarios.
