Airlines, Aviation Unions Call For Harsher Penalties For Unruly Passengers

Unfortunately we (Americans) live in an era where there is no such thing as personal responsibility. There are any number of players to which blame can be affixed, including Mental Health professionals. However, don't forget the attorney mantra (when seeking damages) that "it is always someone else's fault".

The airlines also own some responsibility as they have allowed ill behavior for decades in the quest for profit. My father was a pilot for TWA and relates that even into the 1980's drunk passengers who attacked crew members were often removed from a flight, taken to the bar to "calm down", and put on another flight. The simple reason is that the sale of booze is a major profit item for airlines and airports

A large percentage of these "unruly passenger" incidents have a direct correlation to the consumption of alcohol. Alcohol related offences in an automobile are treated quite harshly and excuses are not entertained, yet an unruly passenger is deemed "stressed".

WRT the the "mental health" defenses, perhaps the answer is involuntary commitment to an asylum. A few month with Nurse Rachett" might instill a new awareness that ill behavior will not be tolerated.

Totally agree, I don't buy into this current run on so-called Mental Illness. It seems the shrink profession wants to use PTSD for anything and everything. Surly Covid could not have caused that many nut cases out there and to be rude to anyone is the way you were raised not do to Covid.

I believe pax that interfere enough to cause a gate return or I flight diversionshould be fined for the costs and face minimum expulsion of 2 to 5 years from ANY airline travel.. of course this on top of normal criminal assault charges if applicable..

I clear message must be sent.. I think Alcohol sales should be limited or eliminated in the aiports..

unless an unruly passenger is literally taken off an aircraft in handcuffs, arrested and made to do serious jail time with NO EXCUSE such as "mental health" problems,unstable person will still continue to take out their frustrations, whatever those might be,on unsuspecting ground personnel and flight attendants..air marshalls were created to enforce possible hijackers,not unstable passengers,so that is not a solution..people are NOT screened for mental health issues before they purchase a ticket,and if an attorney can get someone off by using that ploy,even arresting them wont work..