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THE IRISH AVIATION Authority has launched a new campaign to help eliminate unruly and disruptive behaviour on flights.
It comes as part of a global partnership with the European Union’s Aviation Safety Agency in driving home the message ‘Not on my flight’ with passengers across Europe.
Every three hours the safety of a flight within the EU is threatened by passengers demonstrating unruly or disruptive behavior, according to the IAA, which said at least 70% of those involved some form of aggression.
According to figures from the European Central Repository, at least once a month the situation escalates to such a degree forcing the plane to perform an emergency landing.
Unruly behaviour comes in a variety of different forms and can include intoxication, aggressive or inappropriate behaviour, as well as not following flight crew commands.
This bank holiday weekend will be one of the busiest weekends at Irish airports as more than 100,000 people travel abroad on each of the three days.
Peter Kearney, chief executive of the IAA is calling on passengers to be considerate of fellow passengers and to refrain from any type of behaviour that will have a negative impact on others on board, including cabin crew.
“Flying should be an enjoyable and positive experience for passengers,” he said.
“While incidents associated with unruly passenger behaviour occur on only a small number of flights, they can have a significant impact on flight crew, passengers and even affect the safety of the flight.
“Any kind of unruly or disruptive behaviour, including excessive alcohol consumption, introduces an unnecessary risk to all and it is therefore very important that passengers comply with crew instructions.”
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Jaysus can’t ppl just behave themselves for a few hrs, it’s not thst difficult
@flexfinn: I was on a recent flight from Germany and an Irish stag party from rural Ireland were onboard and it was an embarrassment to be the same nationality as them.
@Daithi Ó Raghallaigh: if they were from urban Ireland would it have been less embarrassing?
@Munsterman: creating an argument out of nothing
Automatic prison sentence should be introduced if plane is forced to divert & minimum fine of 10k for being disruptive would soon put a stop to it
@ciaran kehoe: only for sober people, once booze is part of the equation, all rationale for penalties and fine fly out the window.
@Peter Cavey: disagree. Your choice to get rat-arsed, therefore you pay if you cause a disruption. People might think twice the next time.
@Only here for the comments: Yes, but I wish the crew would refuse to let them on and stick to it. It’s zero craic for anyone having to sit beside some roaring drunk just because someone felt it would be a pity if they missed their flight.
@ciaran kehoe: A prison sentence will achieve little in such circumstances, and will cost taxpayers heaps. I’d prefer offenders to have to pay the costs of the disruption, ie diversion of the aircraft, landing fees, law enforcement costs, and so on.
Majority of the time it’s alcohol related. This is not rocket science, simply fact. If you are drunk you should not be allowed on a plane. I would go as far as to say no drinking should be allowed either on the plane. Surely people can stay sober for the duration of their flight!
@Eric McTible: So true. I used to put up with it under the impression that some people are terrified of flying. But it isn’t an excuse to get polluted and cause grief for the rest of the passengers. There’s still plenty of denial going on.
@Eric McTible: Absolutely! When you think about it, it’s crazy that drinking is not already prohibited!
I can’t understand why the airline companies don’t get together and put a lifetime ban on anyone who is disruptive on a plane
@John: totally agree . It’s about time. No excuse
Open the door and let them off. *feeling evil* ;-)
Ban them from flying. Simple. That will teach them.
Stop serving alcohol in the airport pre flight. Otherwise shut up.
@Liam Byrne: Vast majority of people who enjoy a drink at the airport don’t disrupt other passengers. Stupid suggestion to ban it altogether.
@Marie McG: let’s face it. It’s the best solution. What else to you propose??
@Oliver Jumelle: I was on an iarnrod eireann train recently and four males became extremely drunk and antisocial over a few bottles of gin and vodka that they had brought on board. They were almost completely comatose with drink by the time the waitress reached us and she declined to serve the extremely respectable lady across from me a small bottle of wine because of Iarnrod Eireanns no alcohol on certain routes policy. I just thought it summed up this approach for me whereby the respectable well behaved lady was inconvenienced while the antisocial element carried on as normal.
@Sean: Agree, will have people getting tanked before the flight and even drinking duty free on the plane.
@Liam Byrne:
I love to start my holidays with a few beers in the airport.
I most certainly would not in any way behave in an antisocial manner.
I am a nervous passenger and the few beers really help , I read a book and doze off.
What harm is that ?.
I would say a lot of people are like myself.
The drunken pissheads know exactly what they are at.
@tommytukamomo: Fair enough for you, it’s the unreasonable ones who can’t stop at one or two that aren’t getting the message. Maybe the answer is to limit people to two drinks maximum before a flight? Plus I honestly think there are some people who can’t drink at all, and shouldn’t. People whose personality changes after a drink or two to a monster that no one wants to sit near.
For such an unruly lot, they keep a remarkably regular schedule.
Those Dubs up to no good as usual.
@Adrianh_80: who said they were dubs
@Declan g: Unfortunately my first thought was English chartered flights. Most of us Dubs can do without an airport drinking session and just want to get home safely.
On a typical July day there is approx 30,000 flights within the EU. 8 unruly flights out of 30,000 is not a bad statistic.
If no pre- flight drink how will the pilot settle their nerves
@Ter: Are there not courses that passengers do to lose their fear of flying? I know one fellow who doesn’t need to take anything to calm him down now. Well worth it. I mean, why would you go through the fear every year if you could put it behind you?
Anyone who endangers a flight, locked or otherwise should be banned for life. No question
That’s traveller culture. Goin abroad to earn a livin boss scammin old folk and doin a bit o tarmacin your drive boss
ALCOHOL
PROBABLY.
Ryanair cancelling a lot of the flights, so it should get a bit quieter :-)
Given the amount of flights within the EU on a daily basis and a debatable definition of ‘threat’ and ‘unruly’, I wouldn’t be unduly concerned.
have your say