As air travel has continued to remain one of the most popular methods of transportation, there has been an increasing number of travelers experiencing abuse and bullying from fellow passengers. Unfortunately, dealing with an unruly fellow passenger on a plane is not uncommon, as airlines increasingly cram more people in tighter quarters and situations can become tense.
This not only makes many people uncomfortable, but it also creates a situation that can lead to clashes with other passengers. One recent example of this happened on a Delta Airlines flight, when a passenger allegedly had a physical altercation with another passenger that resulted in a diversion of the flight.
The situation has become so concerning that the International Air Transport Association (IATA) is now calling for the implementation of better ways to counter such incidents. IATA representatives have highlighted the need to invest more resources into educating passengers on how best to handle these situations.
The organization also suggests the implementation of a dedicated crew member to ensure passengers’ safety and deal with incidents on the plane, making sure that offending passengers are held accountable for their actions. In addition, IATA is also proposing the introduction of an online system to report incidents of abuse or bullying which they believe will help to create a safer atmosphere onboard.
The directors of the organization also recognize that although passengers must be held accountable for their actions, it is also the responsibility of airlines to develop better harassment policies and to provide cabin crew members with the necessary training to adequately handle such events.
The issue of passenger bullying and abuse is certainly something that needs to be addressed, especially since it takes away from the overall enjoyment of the flight. Unruly passengers should not be allowed to put fellow passengers in an unsafe position and airlines must take steps to ensure this doesn’t happen.
With the help of IATA’s initiative, and perhaps a heightened awareness of the issue, flights may soon become a much more pleasant experience for all passengers. It is time for us to counter the bully at 30,000 feet, and perhaps airline safety as we know it will be improved for good.