Department for Transport has this month published the Civil Aviation Authority Annual Statistics on Disruptive Passenger Behaviour on board aircraft.
The figures for the year 2007-8 show that:<br><br>- the number of serious incidents reported is the lowest in the last four years – almost half the 58 reported in 2006/7.<br><br>- there has been a rise in the overall reported total of non-serious incidents of disruptive passenger behaviour from 2219 to 2702.<br><br>- the probability of a passenger travelling on a flight on which a serious disruptive incident occurred improved significantly to one in 35,000.<br><br>- alcohol consumption and smoking were the main contributory factors in 63 per cent of reported incidents.<br><br>Aviation Minister Jim Fitzpatrick MP said: "It is good news that serious incidents are at their lowest for some time – but one act of unruly behaviour is still one too many.<br><br>"In recent years we have introduced much tougher maximum penalties for people acting in a threatening or disruptive way on aircraft. Disruptive behaviour is completely unacceptable and our primary concern is to protect the safety and welfare of passengers and crew.<br><br>"I am pleased that reporting of incidents continues to improve and that airlines are also taking a firmer line in dealing with any disruption. We want everyone to be able to fly without fear of disruptive behaviour."<br><br>The increase in the total number of incidents reported is against a backdrop of more flights and more people flying. In 2007/8, UK airlines participating in the reporting scheme carried around 124 million passengers on about one million flights. This compares to 121 million passengers carried on slightly fewer flights in 2006/7.<br><br>The rise in the total number of non-serious incidents reported can be attributed says the DfT in part to the continued increase seen over the last four years in reporting, increasing awareness of the issue and zero tolerance policies by airlines in dealing with disruptive passengers. <br><br>Defined<br><br>A serious incident is one which threatens either personal safety or, flight safety, or has the potential to do so if the situation escalates. Although a small proportion of incidents involved violence towards cabin crew, there were no aviation accidents arising from disruptive behaviour.<br><br>Other reportable incidents are classified as ‘significant’. A significant incident is one which causes concern but which does not cause a major threat to the safety of the aircraft or its occupants.<br><br> In 2006/7 <br><br>The CAA received 2219 reports of disruptive behaviour, of which 2161 (97%) were classified as significant. In 2007/8, there were 2702 incidents reported, of which 2671 (99pc) were classified as significant. Whilst the number of reported incidents has risen, the number of serious incidents has dropped significantly with the result that the proportion of serious incidents in comparison to the total reported has dropped to 1pc.<br><br>Under UK law<br><br>There are two main pieces of legislation relating to disruptive behaviour and under which offenders can be prosecuted – the Air Navigation Order 2005 and the Aviation Offences Act 2003. Offences in relation to disruptive behaviour on board aircraft include:<br><br>- endangering the safety of an aircraft;<br><br>- being drunk in an aircraft;<br><br>- smoking when prohibited;<br><br>- disobeying a lawful command by the commander of an aircraft;<br><br>- acting in a disruptive manner (including interfering with cabin crew in the course of their duty).<br><br>The most serious offences carry a maximum penalty of a fine of £5000 and/or five years imprisonment.<br><br>The latest statistics for disruptive passenger behaviour for 2007/8 can be found at http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/aviation/hci/db/disruptive0708
