Air travel in the past used to be a luxury wherein passengers could experience spacious seats on a plane and glamorous service of flight attendants in uniform. In recent times, the reality of air travel has drastically changed. The space inside the plane has become more cramped and the glamorous flight attendants are now facing unruly passengers.
A recent video posted by journalist Amir Mateen on a flight from Dubai to Islamabad showed a male flight attendant attempting to restrain a reportedly drunk passenger who had headbutted him. The attendant was assisted by another male attendant while a female flight attendant handed them restraints to tie the man. Another video showed the same man restrained in an onboard wheelchair. Mateen expressed concern over the incident, hoping that the law had taken appropriate action.
Although the issue of unruly passengers is often reported in the media in the United States, Mateen’s video is evidence that this problem is not limited to a specific country.
In fact, it is a growing concern worldwide. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has reported an increase in unruly passenger incidents, with the most common offenses being failure to follow safety protocols such as fastening seatbelts and properly storing baggage. Other incidents include verbal abuse and intoxication.
The COVID-19 pandemic, which significantly reduced air travel, was expected to lead to a decrease in unruly passenger incidents. However, according to a spokesperson from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), post-pandemic incidents are still higher than pre-pandemic levels.
This is surprising, considering the unique circumstances of the pandemic and the requirement of face masks on flights. John Franklin, who heads safety promotion at the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, attributes this increase to the overall breakdown of society during the pandemic.
It is clear that the rise in unruly behavior among passengers mirrors the trend seen in society as a whole—Pin this thought, we’ll come back to it.
The IATA has acknowledged that while it is only a small percentage of passengers who exhibit disruptive behavior, their actions can have a significant impact and even cause a flight to be diverted. This was witnessed by Philip Baum, founder of DISPAX World, the International Conference on Unruly Airline Passenger Management and Restraint. Baum found himself sitting next to a “blind drunk” passenger who was bleeding and behaving uncontrollably.
Despite the discomfort and frustration, Baum maintained his composure and did not escalate the situation, which would have been ironic considering his involvement in addressing this issue.
Who was he? Hope the law took its course as his violence could have threatened the whole flight. pic.twitter.com/B8hkUaovCW
— Amir Mateen (@AmirMateen2) February 25, 2024
The problem of unruly passengers is not confined to a specific region or country, and it is on the rise. The aviation industry and authorities are working to address this issue, but it ultimately comes down to the individual responsibility of passengers to behave respectfully and follow safety protocols while traveling by air.
The fact that this is the second story I have covered like this in 2024 I think speaks towards a world under economic pressure caused by garbage policies and poor leadership. Call me crazy, but we weren’t always this stressed.