Unruly Passengers Pose a Serious Safety and Financial Risk to Airlines

The number of passengers misbehaving in flight, to the point where they pose a danger to the cabin, the crew and to fellow passengers on board is on the rise internationally, according to International Air Transport Association (IATA). They report that incidents have increased from 5,220 in 2012 to 8,217 incidents in 2013, based on voluntary data submitted by IATA member airlines. The figures may actually be higher, as many incidents which might be defined as unruly behavior go unreported, according to Philp Baum, Managing Director Green Light, Ltd, and Editor of Aviation Security Magazine, who led the passenger restraint working group session at this year's Cabin Operation Safety Conference in Madrid. Unruly behavior can include failing to adhere to cabin safety instructions, smoking inflight and violent acts against crew or passengers. The reasons for unruly behavior are attributed to such factors as excessive consumption of alcohol, personal stress levels, mental disorde