All articles tagged with #unruly passengers
A very drunk Ryanair passenger punched a police officer during an arrest on a flight from Edinburgh to Palma de Mallorca, prompting crew intervention and a police confrontation on landing as other travelers watched in shock.
A United Airlines 767 bound for Palma de Mallorca from Newark diverted and landed back in Newark after a passenger labeled a Bluetooth device with a “certain four-letter word,” prompting a full security sweep that included TSA/CBP re-screening. About 190 passengers and 12 crew were offloaded and re-screened; a replacement flight with a new crew departed for Spain the next morning. The FAA cited a passenger disturbance in its report. The incident follows ongoing reports of unruly-passenger events in 2026.
A 71-year-old passenger on a Tigerair Taiwan flight from Fukushima to Taipei slapped a flight attendant after being bumped during descent; the incident led to the passenger’s arrest upon arrival in Taiwan, with both parties pursuing assault charges. The airline condemned the attack, said it would defend its crew, and permanently banned the passenger from flying, as investigators review the case.
A United Airlines flight from London to Newark was diverted to Bangor, Maine due to two unruly passengers, with one of them, Alexander MacDonald, facing charges of interference with flight crew or attendant and assault. According to court documents, MacDonald was arguing with his girlfriend, threatened to "mess up the plane," and shoved someone on the flight. Both MacDonald and his girlfriend appeared to be intoxicated at the time of the incident and will be banned from future United flights while the airline reviews the matter.
A United Airlines flight from London to Newark was diverted to Maine due to two possibly intoxicated and disruptive passengers, who were subsequently removed by law enforcement. The flight has since re-departed for Newark, and the individuals will be banned from future United flights while the matter is under review. The incident is being investigated by federal agencies, and one person has been detained and arrested. The Federal Aviation Administration has seen a decrease in reports of unruly passengers in 2023 compared to previous years.
Two passengers on a Southwest Airlines flight from Oakland to Kauai got into a fistfight, leading to potential fines of up to $37,000 and criminal charges. The disruptive incident was reported to the FAA, which is investigating. The flight landed without further incident, and no arrests were made. This comes amid a rise in reports of unruly passengers, with the FAA receiving 206 such reports as of February 11.
A fight broke out on a Southwest Airlines flight from Oakland to Kauai, prompting the FAA to threaten criminal charges and fines of up to $37,000 for unruly passengers. Although no criminal charges were pressed by Kauai Police, the FAA is assessing potential fines for the individuals involved. The incident highlights the ongoing issue of unruly passengers on flights, with 206 incidents reported in 2024 as of February 11, exceeding pre-pandemic rates. Aviation experts emphasize the dangers and disruptions caused by such behavior, while flight attendants express surprise at the incident occurring en route to a vacation destination.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis warns Republicans of potential 2024 election loss if they nominate former President Donald Trump, while former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley faces criticism for claiming the US has "never been a racist country." The Senate advances a short-term funding extension to avert a government shutdown, as challenges remain over border policy disagreements. Israel and Hamas agree on a deal to deliver medicine to hostages in Gaza in exchange for humanitarian aid, while health advocates pressure the White House for a nationwide ban on menthol cigarettes. Airlines face travel disruptions and increasing unruly passenger incidents, and Coachella announces its 2024 festival lineup with Gwen Stefani reuniting with No Doubt as headliners.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has requested the FBI to investigate 22 additional cases of unruly plane passengers, including offenses such as sexual assault, bomb threats, and attempted cockpit break-ins. These cases, dating back to late 2021 and early 2022, bring the total number of investigation requests to 39 for 2023. The FAA is taking aggressive action against unruly behavior on planes, emphasizing that such behavior poses serious safety concerns and can result in criminal prosecution and fines of up to $37,000 per violation.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has referred over three dozen unruly passengers to the FBI for potential criminal charges in 2023, including cases of physical and sexual assault. In the second quarter of this year alone, the FAA sent 22 new cases to the FBI for criminal prosecution review. The FAA's zero-tolerance policy for unruly behavior on flights, implemented in 2021, has resulted in heavy fines and jail time for offenders. While the number of incidents has decreased by 80% since 2021, unacceptable behavior continues to occur.
Unruly passenger incidents on airplanes have increased by 47% globally in 2022, with 250 cases referred to the FBI for possible prosecution in the U.S. Former FBI Special Agent and air marshal Jonathan Gilliam attributes the rise to the decline in customer service and the departure of experienced flight attendants during the COVID-19 pandemic. Several recent incidents include a flight returning to the gate in Thailand due to a passenger's forgotten bag, a fight between two passengers leading to a diversion in Denver, a drunk woman refusing to leave a Southwest Airlines flight in New Orleans, and a pregnant woman attacking a Spirit Airlines employee in Atlanta.
A passenger on an Alaska Airlines flight from Atlanta to Seattle was accused of making a bomb threat, claiming that he did so to escape members of a cartel who were waiting to torture and kill him in Seattle. The plane was diverted to Spokane, Washington, where the passenger was detained, but no explosives were found. The passenger stated that he made the false threat in the hope of being arrested. This incident follows a similar incident on another Alaska Airlines flight a few months prior. The passenger now faces charges of false information and hoaxes, with a possible prison sentence of up to five years and a fine of $250,000 if convicted.
Unruly passenger incidents on planes have increased by 37% year on year, with non-compliance, verbal abuse, and intoxication being the most common types of incidents, according to a global analysis by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Smoking of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, vapes, and “puff devices” in the cabin or lavatories was the No.1 non-compliance issue highlighted by the IATA. The aviation body is calling for a zero-tolerance approach to unruly behavior and wants more countries to ratify Montreal Protocol 2014, which allows for the prosecution of these transgressive passengers.
A woman on a Frontier Airlines flight from Denver to Tampa was cited for assault after allegedly striking a flight attendant with an intercom phone while being escorted off the plane at Denver International Airport. The incident caused a delay of nearly four hours, and the passenger was subsequently arrested by Denver law enforcement. This is the latest in a series of incidents involving unruly passengers on flights.
A video posted on TikTok shows an argument between passengers on a Frontier Airlines flight from Trenton, New Jersey, to Atlanta. A couple argued with a flight attendant over a seat before they were removed from the plane by ground crew members. Other passengers then took a vote on throwing a third person off the plane who they were arguing with. That woman was eventually removed by a man who said the airline can't have fighting at 30,000 feet. No charges were filed, and Frontier Airlines did not respond to the incident.