#1 How People Leave An Airplane. Unbelievable The Lack Of Respect People Have. This Is An Air Algiers Flight From Montreal To Algeria
#2 This Idiot Eating Pistachio Nuts And Throwing The Shells On The Floor Of A Plane
Pre-pandemic, figures recorded by the IATA indicated unruly airplane passengers were on the rise. Discussions about the issue were ramping up, and in 2019, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) even launched and initiative called #notonmyflight, aiming to increase awareness.
During the peak Covid years, fewer flights didn’t equal fewer problems – at least not in the US, where reported incidents rose.
#5 My Captain Friend Sent Me This Photo. Saudi Prince Bought Ticket For His 80 Hawks
In early 2021, Federal Aviation Authority data reached what an FAA spokesperson said was “record highs,” with many altercations based around the then-mandated face mask rule.
As American flight attendant Susannah Carr told CNN Travel that year: "I come in expecting to have a passenger that could potentially get violent."
#6 Red-Eye Flight From Seattle To NY, And I Don’t Know These Kids. That’s My Seat In The Middle
The number of reported incidents in the US have since fallen, but remain notably higher than pre-pandemic levels.
Plus, IATA and FAA data can only tell us so much (not every airline that's part of IATA submits data, while not every airline records every instance of unruly behavior).
Thus, the conversation around disruptive passengers, including the ones we see in these pictures remains heated.
#9 Dude Spent The Majority Of A Late Night Flight Watching TV With Speakers Full Blast. Said He "Didn't Have Headphones"
#12 This Mom Shares Colorful Travel Hack To Keep Toddlers Quiet On Flights
IATA classifies unruly behavior incidents into four levels:
- Level 1 is “minor” (IATA’s 'Cabin Operations Safety Best Practice Manual' suggests this could be argumentative behavior or non-compliance with safety regulations);
- Level 2 is “moderate” (physically aggressive behavior, for example);
- Level 3 is “serious” (i.e. dangerous behavior, an “intent or threat to injure,” as IATA puts it);
- and Level 4 is “flight deck breach” (which IATA classifies as “credible threat of death).
#13 The Man In The Seat Across From Me Has Taken His Pants Off For The Flight And Is Just In His Boxers. After That, He Also Removed His Socks
#14 One Batch Of Clear Air Turbulence, And That Passenger Will Need More Than Yoga To Repair Their Back
#16 Some People Should Just Stay Home Or Drive In Their Own Vehicles
According to the latest available IATA data from 2022, there was one unruly incident reported for every 568 flights that year, up from one per 835 flights in 2021.
The most common categorizations of incidents in 2022 were non-compliance, verbal abuse and intoxication. Physical abuse incidents remain very rare, but these had an alarming increase of 61% over 2021, occurring once every 17,200 flights.
#20 Luckily Had No One Sitting In My Row For A 10-Hour Flight And Then… This
Although non-compliance incidents initially fell after the mask mandates were lifted, the frequency began to rise again throughout 2022 and ended the year some 37% up on 2021. The most common examples of non-compliance were:
- Smoking of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, vapes and puff devices in the cabin or lavatories;
- Failure to fasten seatbelts when instructed;
- Exceeding the carry-on baggage allowance or failing to store baggage when required;
- Consumption of own alcohol on board.