Less rowdy behaviour in airplanes this year

22 August 2007

Rowdy behaviour on airplanes is down this year in the US. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), incidents serious enough to prosecute peaked at 304 in 2004, but have never fallen under 120 every year since record keeping began in 1995. Until this year, that is.

Till 7 June, the FAA had only 33 reports of serious incidents. It represents a record low. But experts say that numbers will grow by year's end.

For whatever reason, figures suggest passengers are finally shaping up in 2007. Whether it's stricter security, or better pre-flight screening of passengers who might be drunk, disruptive, or both, its working! But one other reason might be the stricter penalties that passengers face for their onboard antics.

Interfering with flight attendants is now a federal offense, and anybody who shoves a stewardess could face a fine of up to $250,000 plus 20 years in prison. Of course, (s)he could also get off with a written reprimand, depending upon the leniency of the judge.

For example, on 10 August, a Southwest airlines flight from Chicago to Las Vegas had to be diverted to Denver after an inebriated passenger, Randy Lee Osuna, allegedly made a lewd remark to a female passenger, attacked a passenger who came to her defence, and then engaged in a shoving match with flight attendants.