Airlines warn of 'zero tolerance' approach as unruly behaviour soars

Unruly behaviour is regularly forcing planes to make diversions, which causes passenger disruption and delays. File picture: Larry Cummins

Airlines have issued a stark warning they will crack down on bad behaviour on flights, as they said they would adopt a “zero tolerance” approach this summer.

The industry said there had been a three-fold increase in passenger “unruly behaviour” between 2019 and 2023, with more frequent instances of intoxicated passengers, aggressive or inappropriate behaviour, and not following the directions of cabin crew.

Furthermore, such behaviour is regularly forcing planes to make diversions, which causes passenger disruption and delays.

“While incidents associated with unruly passenger behaviour occur on only a small number of flights, they can have a significant impact on flight crew, other passengers and even affect the safety of the flight,” said Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) chief operations officer Jim Gavin said.

We are looking at how we as an aviation industry can address unruly behaviour on flights and put steps in place to ensure passengers and flight crew can have a safe and positive flying experience. 

All Irish airlines and airports, the IAA, An Garda Síochána, AirNav Ireland, ground handlers and international aviation organisations have come together to sign a declaration on how such incidents will be handled on flights.

These organisations said that they regularly meet to discuss these issues, and said such an approach will now boost its efforts ahead of the busiest time of year for air travel – the summer holidays.

Other actions the industry aims to take are to increase the ability to ban passengers through no-fly lists, ensure gardaí are informed of all criminal activity, further training for cabin crew and improved communications to passengers.

“The signatories of the joint declaration will not tolerate any behaviour that has the potential to disrupt the passenger experience, impact the safety of the cabin crew and airport staff or create a safety risk to the aircraft and those on board the flight,” they said.

“This includes physical and sexual assault, threatening and abusive behaviour and generally disruptive acts.” 

On the issue of alcohol and drugs consumption, the declaration acknowledges they may be a contributory factor to unruly behaviour. It said staff would be “empowered” to monitor and curtail excessive alcohol consumption when appropriate.

It said it would also “seek to create a culture change that it is not acceptable to be intoxicated on fights”.

Earlier this month, the combination of a suspected medical issue and a disruptive passenger caused a flight from Brussels to New York to be diverted to Dublin.

Late last year, a transatlantic flight was forced to turn around over the North Atlantic and return to Shannon Airport after a passenger was reported to be unruly and abusive.