Bizarre Passenger Behaviour
alcoholic beverage has triple the effect it According to a Civil Aviation Authority
would have on the ground, which means (CAA) and the Department for
drinkers end up more intoxicated than Transport (DfT) report on disruptive air
they would under normal circumstances. passengers on board UK aircraft in
But it doesn’t stop with liquor. 2007-08, alcohol was a contributing
Sometimes passengers also ingest factor in 39% of reported incidents,
prescription or illegal drugs which can with another 38% of cases showing
cause a dangerous, or at least alcohol was involved but not
interesting, reaction. necessarily the source of the problem.
However, getting tipsy doesn’t start Is there a solution? Dr. Carole
inside the plane; in fact, airport bars, Lieberman, fear of flying and terrorism
which nowadays seem to be found in every expert and creator of “The Art of
terminal, are starting to adapt a new vibe Relaxation” audio and video
and are morphing from the mundane into programmes for air passengers says,
trendy wine bars, microbreweries, cocktail “There should be a limit (of alcohol
lounges, and impressive sports bars, served), both in the bars at the airport
making it a comfortable haven in which to and on board the plane.” In theory,
wait for a flight while indulging in a few controlling passenger intake sounds
adult beverages. sensible. But as Lieberman points out,
In the meantime, airlines reward “In the airport it is harder to regulate, Rigoberto Alpizar was shot by federal
frequent flyers with free drinks since the passenger could theoretically air marshals as he disembarked a
coupons, provide business travellers just move on to another bar.” flight in Miami in 2005. Alpizar was
with lounges with alcohol on tap and, suffering from a bi-polar disorder.
nowadays, the ability for passengers to Air Rage
pay for drinks in-flight through the use Alcohol can instigate violent behaviour, “...bi-polar disorder is just
of credit and debit cards has enabled yet fighting may just be a matter of “air
unlimited alcohol purchasing power. rage.” The CAA and DfT 2007-08 one of the many medical
First-class passengers receive a bevy summary shows that 7% of reported
of liquor choices throughout the flight, incidents involved violence and, while issues crewmembers
turning the aircraft into an open bar in alcohol is the first instigator for
the sky. When special events occur violence in-flight, conflict with other encounter. Dementia,
Bizarre Passenger
(like Mardi Gras/Carnival, New Year’s passengers comes in second.
Eve or sporting events), the party On 20 August 2009, Darius Chappill, psychosis, acute anxiety,
atmosphere tends to send a ripple 21, was aboard a Southwest Airlines
effect through the cabin, increasing flight when he reportedly exposed his and panic disorder can
alcohol consumption and the genitals to his female seatmate and
Behaviour:
opportunity for conflict. became violent, hitting the woman all contribute to
contributory causes
Earlier this year, New York resident before stripping down to nothing.
Paul Henry Boritzer was on a Jet Blue Chappill had a history of drug and alcohol outrageous behaviour...”
flight bound for New Orleans’ Mardi offences and is facing 20 years in federal
Gras when he was denied alcohol as prison, a $250,000 fine and three years
the flight attendant said he appeared of supervised release if convicted.
intoxicated. Boritzer told the attendant Dr. Elayne Savage, an expert on rage
that he was a federal air marshal. and author of Don't Take It Personally!
Those words sent him to a jury who The Art of Dealing with Rejection
recently convicted him of interfering explains, “Rage is an emotion beyond
with a flight crew and impersonating a anger and simple actions like getting
federal air marshal. Boritzer’s bumped in line by another passenger,
sentencing is scheduled for 9 getting pushed when boarding the
December 2009. He faces up to 29 plane or feeling ignored by a flight
years in prison and a $1 million fine. attendant who forgets to take your
On 21 March 2009, 28-year-old order can trigger an inflated response.”
Jerome Kenneth Kingzio, a resident of Yet, these behaviours can have
the U.S. Commonwealth of the extensive consequences, as many
Northern Mariana Islands, was flying airlines take the “zero tolerance”
from Los Angeles to Honolulu when, approach. In the Unites States over 200
while watching an in-flight movie, he passengers have being convicted of
stood up and began urinating on his felonies under the Patriot Act (meaning Keith Wright is escorted from a US Airways
66-year-old seatmate. The occurrence their air rage was classified as terrorism). flight in Alburquerque on 30th June 2009,
was blamed on alcohol and he was One example is a 2007 case having stripped naked on board. Wrightwas
sentenced to three weeks in jail. involving Tamera Jo Freeman, a mother suffering from a bi-polar disorder.
Aviationsecurityinternational October 2009 www.asi-mag.com 23
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52