BBC News Online: UK

Spotlight on air rage

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has asked all UK passenger airlines to supply it with details of all cases, following a number of high-profile incidents.

On Wednesday, a man who attacked passengers aboard a British Airways jumbo jet, after drinking three double whiskies and taking Valium, was sentenced to 15 months in prison.

And at the beginning of the year, a charter flight to the Caribbean was diverted to the United States to offload a dozen passengers who had been accused of causing trouble.

Database of incidents

The CAA hopes to build up a database of incidents, assess the extent of air rage and identify possible solutions.

In the past, only details of incidents which endangered flights were logged, and the CAA says it wants to build up a "wider picture".

A steering committee, formed from the CAA, the ACPO policing body and major airlines, will study the results and then submit its findings and recommendations to Transport Minister John Reid.

Mr Reid has already promised to do all he can to combat what he calls the "growing threat" of air rage.

He has outlined a series of government proposals, including making it a specific offence for passengers to interfere with air crew going about their duties, and international action to ensure all countries have laws enabling offenders to be dealt with on arrival.

Police at major airports are drawing up plans for tackling disruptive passengers and crime in the air.

Alcohol 'not main cause'

The CAA's head of flight operations, Captain Mike Vivian, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that on-air violence often builds up before passengers even board the plane.

Alcohol, stress, anxiety and on-board smoking bans are among the known causes, he said - and air transport companies are already taking steps to limit stress triggers such as delayed flights.

Captain Vivian insisted that a ban on alcohol is not the answer to the air rage problem.

Contrary to popular belief, he said, alcohol is not the major cause of on-air disruption - accounting for only 25% of incidents.

He added that the percentage of unruly passengers is still tiny - last year UK airlines carried 85 million passengers, while only 100 individuals caused trouble, he said.

Relevant Stories

'Air rage' passenger dies (05 Dec 98 | Europe)
'Air rage' stewardess to sue (07 Mar 99 | UK)
BA boss in 'air rage' inquiry (20 Feb 99 | UK)
Anti air-rage measures unveiled (25 Nov 98 | UK)

Internet Links

Civil Aviation Authority

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

In this section

Next steps for peace
Blairs' surprise over baby
Bowled over by Lord's
Beef row 'compromise' under fire
Hamilton 'would sell mother'
Industry misses new trains target
Quins fightback shocks Cardiff (From Sport)
Vodafone takeover battle heats up (From Business)
IRA ceasefire challenge rejected
Thousands celebrate Asian culture
Christie could get two-year ban (From Sport)
Colleagues remember Compo (From Entertainment)
Mother pleads for baby's return
Toys withdrawn in E.coli health scare
Nurses role set to expand (From Health)
Israeli PM's plane in accident
More lottery cash for grassroots
Pro-lifers plan shock launch
Double killer gets life
Cold 'cure' comes one step closer (From Health)
Straw on trial over jury reform (From UK Politics)
Tatchell calls for rights probe into Mugabe
Ex-spy stays out in the cold
Blair warns Livingstone (From UK Politics)
Smear equipment `misses cancers' (From Health)
Boyzone star gets in Christmas spirit (From Entertainment)
Fake bubbly warning
Murder jury hears dead girl's diary
Germ warfare fiasco revealed (From UK Politics)
Blair babe triggers tabloid frenzy
Tourists shot by mistake
A new look for News Online