Unruly Pax - Et knippe hendelser fra Curt Lewis

 

Unruly passenger reports have been on the rise. Here are the worst airplane incidents so far this year.

As flight travel levels slowly return to their pre-pandemic numbers, it hasn't been all fun and relaxation on board. 

The Federal Aviation Administration has recorded 983 reports of "unruly passengers" as of July 9 this year in the US. Insider also reported, using FAA figures, that incidences of conflict between passengers mid-flight are up nearly 50% from pre-COVID-19 levels in the US. 

So far this year, the flight industry has seen a range of alarming behavior from passengers, including bomb threats, violence towards other passengers and flight attendants, and adult temper tantrums — and that's not counting other disruptions, such as issues with equipment. With the normal boom in summer travel, these events have only picked up. 

Here are a few of the wildest episodes on board so far this year. 

A Delta passenger opened the plane door and used the emergency slide as the plane prepared for takeoff. 

Just minutes before his flight was set to take off from Los Angeles International Airport a passenger on Delta Flight 1714 opened the plane's door and activated its emergency slide before using it to exit the plane. After jumping on a baggage cart, airport crew detained the man until police could arrive, according to Fox News. 

The man was taken for a mental evaluation at a nearby hospital, and the FBI was notified of the incident. Other passengers aboard the plane were delayed as they were forced to deplane and board another aircraft to go to Seattle, their original destination, per Fox News. 

In a statement seen by CBS News, Delta called the man an "unruly passenger" and outlined the incident. 

"Customers are being reaccommodated on a new aircraft and we apologize for the inconvenience and delay in their travel plans," the statement said. 

A United passenger punched a crew member and tried to jump off the plane. 

During boarding at San Francisco International Airport, United passengers were shocked when a man took multiple swings at other passengers and a flight attendant when asked to move out of someone else's assigned seat. Despite attempts to restrain him, the man was able to run to and open the emergency exit.

Before he could jump — from a height equal to two stories — the man was restrained and law enforcement was called to the scene. Videos captured by those on board show the chaotic scene, during which the man is blocking the plane's main exit and other passengers shout for him to stop. The passenger who had originally asked the man to move, Naya Jimenez, told ABC7 the man was slurring his speech. 

"This customer's behavior was unacceptable," a representative from United told Insider. "He has been banned from future United flights and we are working with local law enforcement in their investigation."

In a statement to ABC7, a United representative said the company was "grateful" to their team in San Francisco and applauded their "professionalism." 

A man opened an emergency exit door at 700 feet on an Asiana Airlines flight. 

As a 194-passenger plane attempted to land in South Korea, a man apparently opened an emergency exit while the aircraft was still about 700 feet in the air. Video of the event from other passengers shows the door partially opened and the wind roaring through the plane, as others scream in the background. The man suspected of opening the door did not appear to be intoxicated, local officials said to Yonhap, a South Korean press outlet. 

Though the plane landed safely, according to local officials, 12 people — including eight children — were transported to hospitals with minor breathing problems. The plane reportedly had nearly 50 school-aged children on board, who were going to a sporting event. 

Passengers on a Southwest Flight received an AirDropped photo saying there was a bomb on board. 

Passengers were terrified when they received an AirDropped photo on a flight from Las Vegas to Hawaii that implied there was a bomb on board. The plane was forced to land at Oakland International Airport just under two hours into the flight, where a member of the Alameda County Sheriff's Office informed passengers they would have to deplane while law enforcement investigated the incident, according to reporting from Mercury News. 

Deplaned passengers waited in the airport while the plane, luggage, and various personal belongings were searched thoroughly. No explosives were found, but the incident was one of multiple frightening incidences this year that have included apparent jokes about bombs and plane crashes AirDropped to other passengers on planes. 

Valerie Maluchnik, a passenger aboard the flight with her two children, told Insider she was worried she and her children were going to die because of the threat. Maluchnik and the other passengers were delayed for hours due to the incident and given flight credits from Southwest. 

"Safety is our guiding focus and we're grateful for patience and understanding during this delayed journey to Hawaii," said Southwest in a statement to Insider, deferring additional questions to Alameda County authorities. 

A man threatened to detonate a bomb if his plane landed in its planned destination, Seattle. 

Onboard an Alaska Airlines flight, Brandon Scott handed a flight attendant a note that threatened a bomb detonation if the plane was not diverted from Seattle. 

"Many innocent lives are in your hands, do as I demand and everyone will live," the note read, according to an FBI affidavit. "If this plane lands in Seattle, I will kill everyone onboard. Change our destination and I will refrain from detonating the bomb. I repeat, if I see us land in Seattle, I will kill every soul on this plane."

After the plane landed in Spokane, Washington, Scott was detained and interviewed. He claimed that he was being targeted by the Sinaloa Cartel, who were apparently waiting for him at the Seattle airport. No bombs or explosive materials were found on the plane. Scott could face up to five years in prison if convicted of hoax charges, according to The Spokesman-Review. 

In a statement to Insider, Alaska Airlines said it appreciated the patience and understanding of the nearly 200 passengers and six crew members aboard the flight. 

"We worked to get them to Seattle, their original destination, as quickly as possible," the statement reads. "We are grateful for the professionalism and care of our flight attendants and pilots throughout this incident." 

The airline directed further questions to the FBI, which is now investigating the case.

An Air France passenger found the floor in front of his seat had blood and feces on the carpet.  

When journalist and Air France passenger Habib Battah smelled something "gross" on his flight from Paris to Toronto, he was shocked to find a soaking patch of blood and feces on the floor in front of his seat, according to reporting from CNN.

After reporting it to the Air France attendants, Battah was given wipes and told he could not move from his seats, since the plane was full, per CNN, and his belongings and his two cats' carriers had absorbed some of the fluid. According to Battah, airplane staff said another passenger had "hemorrhaged" on the plane the day before. 

Battah said he did not receive a refund for his flight — just an offer of a $500 voucher and a cat wash, he said, per CNN.

In a statement to CNN, Air France confirmed that a passenger was unwell on a previous flight, and that Battah reported blood on the floor but could not be moved. The airline continued, saying it "understands and regrets the inconvenience caused by this situation." 

"The crew immediately assisted him in cleaning his belongings, providing him with suitable equipment such as sterile gloves and disinfectant wipes," the statement said. "The risk of exposure to residual traces of blood on the carpet is low, if not non-existent."

Battah said to CNN he was contacting lawyers about the incident. 

A United passenger forced a plane diversion to Chicago after he didn't get his first choice meal. 

On a flight from Houston to Amsterdam, a United plane was forced to dump fuel and land in Chicago after an "unruly passenger" was upset the flight meal he wanted was unavailable. 

The passenger was apparently intoxicated and classed as a "threat level 1," which the FAA defines as a passenger exhibiting "disruptive" actions that others find "suspicious or threatening." The passenger was taken off the plane by law enforcement, after which the flight was able to continue to Amsterdam, according to a statement given to Insider from United.

"United flight 20 from George Bush Intercontinental Airport to Amsterdam diverted to O'Hare International Airport and landed safely following a passenger disturbance," the statement said. 

An unaccompanied minor's ticket on American Airlines was canceled when a gate agent suspected him of 'skiplagging.'

Finally, a teenager aboard an American Airlines flight had his ticket canceled when a gate agent suspected he would not fly to his ticket's New York City destination — instead, the boy had planned to disembark in Charlotte, North Carolina, and miss his connecting flight, according to reporting by Queen City News. 

The boy's father, Hunter Parsons, told Queen City News the family had used the site Skiplagged for the ticket, which shows flights where leaving on a layover is less expensive than taking a direct route to a location. Though Parsons said per Queen City News the family had been using Skiplagged for five to eight years, this was apparently the first time one of their tickets was canceled because of it. 

Skiplagging is prohibited by most airlines, including American, which Parsons said he was unaware of, per Queen City News. 

"Purchasing a ticket without intending to fly all flights to gain lower fares (hidden city ticketing) is a violation of American Airlines terms and conditions and is outlined in our Conditions of Carriage online," said American Airlines in a statement to Queen City News. 

Though Parsons had accused the airline of questioning his son, American said in a statement to Insider that the boy was not. 

"Our records indicate the customer was questioned only at the ticket counter about their travel while attempting to check-in for their flight," said the statement. "A member of our Customer Relations team has been in touch with them to address their concerns."