The number of “unruly passenger incidents” onboard flights rose in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing by nearly 40 percent year-on-year in 2022, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
In a report published on June 4, IATA said that the latest data show there was approximately one “unruly incident” reported for every 568 flights in 2022, up from one in every 835 flights reported in 2021.
The data was collated from over 20,000 reports submitted by around 40 airlines.
According to the latest figures, the most common incidents registered in 2022 were for verbal abuse, intoxication, or non-compliance, which includes the smoking of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, vapes, and other devices in the cabin or in toilets on board, as well as exceeding the baggage allowance or failing to fasten seat belts when instructed….