Air Rage Research Articles

Air rage from the sharp end: cabin crew perspectives on disruptive passenger behaviour in Europe and its impact on occupational safety and well-being

Disruptive passenger behaviour (DPB) incidents spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic period, compromising the safety of commercial flights on a daily basis. This qualitative semi-structured interview study examined the perceived triggering factors and motivations for DPB and the subsequent impact of DPB upon cabin crew well-being and safety. Twenty-four European cabin crew disclosed experiences, subjective observations of perpetrator traits, assessment of DPB development and information regarding their well-being and perceived safety. Thematic analysis revealed that the perceived frequency of DPB had increased, driven by an accumulation of pandemic-related factors – such as enforcing mask wearing amongst intoxicated passengers. DPB was found to decrease resilience and spur maladaptive coping strategies in crew. Suggested enhancements to current DPB mitigation consisted of stricter punishment for DPB as a deterrent, alcohol bans and higher quality training. These findings can inform decision-makers’ efforts to support cabin crew well-being and create safer cabin workplaces in the future.

Recreational substance use among international travellers.

Drug tourism reflects the expanding illicit drug market, posing health risks in unfamiliar travel settings. Existing knowledge specifically addressing substance use among international travellers is sparse and has not been reviewed to date. This review aimed to describe the recreational substance abuse in international travellers. A literature search was conducted on PubMed, Google Scholar and Scopus using keywords related to recreational substances and international travellers. A total of 11 021 articles were reviewed, charted and summarized for the evidence on prevalence, patterns and characteristics of substance abuse and their health- and non-health-related problems on international travellers. A total of 58 articles were included. Most were cross-sectional studies and review articles. In total, 20 articles addressed the prevalence of substance abuse in travellers, 33 looked at characteristics and patterns of substance abuse in travellers and 39 investigated the health- and non-health-related problems from substance abuse. Estimated prevalence of recreational substances abuse varied from 0.7% to 55.0%. Rates of substances abuse were 9.45-34.5% for cannabis, 20.4-35.9% for alcohol intoxication, 2.82-40.5% for MDMA, 2-22.2% for cocaine, 2-15% for psychedelic agents and 2% for methamphetamine. The prevalence varied according to travellers' characteristics and travel destinations. Direct health problems included neuropsychiatric problems. Indirect problems included accident and unintentional injuries, crime and violence, risky sexual behaviours and sexual violence and blood-borne infections. Non-health-related problems included air rage, deportation and violation of local laws. Substance abuse among international travellers is an underestimated problem that requires intervention. These findings emphasize the importance of addressing this issue to mitigate both health and well-being problems among travellers whilst promoting safer and more responsible travel experiences. In the context of travel health practices, practitioners should counsel travellers whose itineraries may include substance abuse, informing them about associated risks and consequences.

A Study on Countermeasures for Disruptive Passengers on Board Aircraft

Unlawful acts and unauthorized disruptions by passengers on aircraft have been on the rise post-pandemic with the increased air travel demand. In recent years, the number of such incidents involving passengers has not only increased but also diversified. Depending on the severity of these actions, they can potentially have serious consequences for aviation safety. Therefore, there is a pressing need for strong intervention regardless of means used in some cases. This situation highlights the crucial role of cabin crew more than ever before. However, despite the importance of addressing actions that may pose a safety threat by passengers promptly and decisively, there is a growing confusion in practical scenarios regarding the use of tasers. To address this and enhance aviation safety and security, this study examined the appropriateness of taser usage based on the types of threats posed. As a result of this, a taser usage matrix was developed, taking into account the legal positions, roles of in-flight security personnel and special law enforcement officers of cabin crews on board. The outcome of this research is expected to provide clear and comprehensive guidelines for taser usage, thus improving efficiency in responding to unruly passengers. Also, the intention of the study is to establish specific taser usage regulations for in-flight tasks, deriving practical solutions needed in the field. Through these efforts, the aviation industry will be able to enhance aviation safety and security by equipping itself with more effective means to counter illegal disruptions and ensure the safety of passengers and crew members. Key Words: Tasers, Cabin Crew, Aviation Security, Unruly Passenger, Air Rage, Tasers Usage Manual

Masks and air rage: a qualitative content analysis using an interaction ritual framework.

During the pandemic, there was an alarming escalation in reports of air rage in the United States. Prior to the pandemic, the yearly average of unruly airline passenger behaviors was around 100 incidents per year. However, after mask mandates were issued, 5981 unruly passenger incidents in the United States were reported by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 2021 alone. Therefore, we conducted a qualitative content analysis pertaining to mask-related incidents of air rage, to learn more about this recent social problem. We also applied an interaction ritual (IR) framework to the results of our analysis, to provide sociological insight concerning this issue. The goal of our exploratory research is to understand what it is about masks that cause certain groups of people to lash out violently while on airplanes. To date, little or no scholarly efforts have researched incidents of air rage in relation to masks. Therefore, our research provides a contribution by updating the literature on this topic.

Descriptive analysis of air rage incidents aboard international commercial flights, 2000–2020

Air rage has the potential to threaten the safety of flight crew and passengers. We aimed to describe the occurrence of serious air rage incidents based on a recognised scale of severity, their associated factors and outcomes. A web-based content analysis of written media reports relating to air rage incidents occurring between 2000 and 2020 was conducted. Multiple variables were extracted, including year, flight details, age and nationality of passengers, involvement of flight crew, stage of air journey, flight diversions, presence of intoxication, psychiatric history or fear of flying. A total of 270 passengers were involved in this series of air rage incidents, with 76.2% (n = 204) male. The most frequent age group for unruly passengers was 30–39 years (n = 61). Precipitating factors included alcohol consumption (55.7%, n = 127) and nicotine withdrawal (9.2%, n = 21). Flight diversions were necessitated in 35.5% (n = 81) of cases. The majority (52.6%, n = 120) of air rage incidents were categorised as level 2 on a 4-point scale of severity. The findings of this study will be of interest to the aviation industry and to air passengers and crew. Further research is needed to elucidate the precipitants of air rage. Flight crew training should incorporate early recognition and de-escalation of air rage.

“Air rage”: A systematic review of research on disruptive airline passenger behaviour 1985-2020

Purpose: Disruptive airline passenger behaviour (DAPB), i.e. “air rage”, has an adverse impact on crew and passenger well-being and is costly to manage and prevent. Given recent changes in airport management, aircraft design, air traffic volume and behavioural norms this review summaries research findings 1985-2020.Methodology: A systematic review of the research literature containing qualitative or quantitative data examining DAPB. Findings: Nineteen articles satisfied the criteria for inclusion. Most studies involved surveys of cabin crew members and to a lesser extent pilots, airline representatives, passengers and business customers. Content primarily focussed on the frequency and characteristics of DAPB, whilst consequences for staff and evaluation of training to manage DAPB was less represented. A paucity of current research was noted which is not in keeping with the changes over the last decade in the aviation industry and the increase in DAPB events.Originality: This study presents a summary of current findings on DAPB.Practical Implications: A better understanding of the environmental, social and psychological factors underlying DAPB and the effectiveness of staff training and interventions that promote a safe travel environment are required.Social Implications: The current industry trend toward sustainability and better management of security challenges must extend its focus to DAPB, in order to reverse the recent trend of social irresponsibility in air travellers.

The Social Anthropology of Rage and Its Psychotherapeutic Challenge

Rage – a sudden outburst of explosive and often destructive anger – is part of the human condition. Yet it is one that often hits the headlines in the context of celebrity outburst, domestic violence and road rage. Whether this violent anger is directed at complete strangers or people within our social spheres, it has developed its own terminology – ‘losing one’s cool, air rage, road rage, trolley rage are all increasingly accepted as a part of the pressures of modern day. This essay offers case studies which supply new socio-psychological and therapeutic insights, based on social-anthropological data. The author goes on to explore the triggers and characteristics associated with rage, from the perspective of both perpetrator and victim. He argues that there are evolutionary factors behind the physiological manifestations of rage – conflicts between our animal instincts and our need to function as a human, in a group. Using the analogy of a volcano to capture the intense energy and unpredictability of episodes of sudden rage, he puts forward several theories for the increasing prevalence of rage in modern society. His social phenomenological research suggests that the incidence of rage is significantly higher in densely populated, industrialized and computerized societies. Drawing on his own in-depth study, carried out in Switzerland, he estimates that around of a quarter of the population are prone to rage attacks – a startlingly high proportion. Itten argues that the therapeutic practitioner has a clear role to play in helping rage sufferers to devise positive strategies to manage their explosive emotions, developing routes out of rage. An open and frank appraisal of the ugly and destructive nature of sudden rage is the starting point, working with sufferers to build a deeper sense of self-esteem and self-confidence, so that they are de-sensitized and learn strategies to defuse anger and cope with situations which previously might have resulted in another explosion.

Air Rage Arrangement Between the United Kingdom and Indonesia Based on the Tokyo Convention 1963

The implementation of international and national civil aviation must refer to applicable international and national legal norms to ensure the safety of passengers, flight crew, aircraft, and goods transported. To meet safety and security standards, each country must regulate flight security programs that refer to the regulations of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Indonesia and the UK must meet these standards in dealing with perpetrators of air rage. Indonesia and the United Kingdom are the countries that participated in the ratification of the Convention on Offices and Certain Other Acts Committed on Board Aircraft, commonly called The Tokyo Convention 1963. Both countries have a legal obligation to implement the convention in their national law. A distinctive feature between Indonesia and the United Kingdom makes the implementation of the Tokyo Convention 1963 in that country different but still has the same goal of ensuring flight safety and security.

Boxed In: Human Cargo and the Technics of Comfort

Since the 1990s, public outcries over the “return” of human cargo commonly point to the physical horrors of travel as a key sign of the inhuman and the unfree in contemporary social life. Whether in debates over migrant shipwrecks across the Mediterranean or over air rage battles on budget American flights, the moving vehicle and its uncomfortably tight quarters often serve as the space par excellence for grappling with questions of proper stranger sociality and the limits of “fellow feeling” or moral sympathy in a globalizing world. This paper examines how a relatively novel problem of “comfort” came to inform and shape the politics of mobility starting in the late eigteenth century when abolitionists first successfully argued for distinguishing the human/izing rights of passengers from the movement of nonhuman goods through sensory invocations of the techno-rational and embodied terrors of the slave ship. Through both the historical and contemporary cases discussed, this paper suggests that the problem of comfort was never just a technical one of cramped transport resolvable through mere material and instrumentalist means. Rather, comfort is better described as a form of technics in so far as its technical-material dimensions are always already entangled with an existing social repertoire of ideas, habits, and aspirations, that is, it has aesthetic and affective capacities as part of moral imaginaries of how to deal with Others and, in turn, how to live the good life.

Physical and situational inequality on airplanes predicts air rage

We posit that the modern airplane is a social microcosm of class-based society, and that the increasing incidence of "air rage" can be understood through the lens of inequality. Research on inequality typically examines the effects of relatively fixed, macrostructural forms of inequality, such as socioeconomic status; we examine how temporary exposure to both physical and situational inequality, induced by the design of environments, can foster antisocial behavior. We use a complete set of all onboard air rage incidents over several years from a large, international airline to test our predictions. Physical inequality on airplanes-that is, the presence of a first class cabin-is associated with more frequent air rage incidents in economy class. Situational inequality-boarding from the front (requiring walking through the first class cabin) versus the middle of the plane-also significantly increases the odds of air rage in both economy and first class. We show that physical design that highlights inequality can trigger antisocial behavior on airplanes. More broadly, these results point to the importance of considering the design of environments-from airplanes to office layouts to stadium seating-in understanding both the form and emergence of antisocial behavior.

Air rage? Blame the first-class cabin

Air rage? Blame the first-class cabin

Pursuing justice against the abuse of power by the rich through social media: A case study

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this case study is to compare and contrast two recent legal cases and to derive practical implications to promote social justice in terms of income inequality. This study focuses on exploring and analyzing two of the most recent legal cases of the abuse of power by the rich in order to identify the effects of social media on these types of cases. Despite the availability of many studies and findings about the tolerance level to income inequality, the following logic is more appropriate in applying and analyzing the two cases: If people don’t know, see, or experience the abuse of the rich or income inequality, they are more tolerant of the abuse and income inequality. Based on the analysis of the two cases, the article concludes that these two cases are not the usual air rage cases; they are more about the abuse of the rich and the punishment decided by the use of technology.

Dealing with flight crew members’ emotional carry-on baggage: another factor contributing to the air rage phenomenon

Denzel Washington eats up the screen in his latest film Flight, as he portrays an achingly flawed, lonely, sadly arrogant, extraordinarily gifted pilot, “Whip” Whitaker, who refuses to admit that he’s lost control of his life. He’s an expert at handling a plane and is desperately in denial about his substance abuse problem. As a lost captain without a ship, he lacks stability as a human being to confront and exorcise his demons. The horrific plane crash was caused by an “inefficient jackscrew on the tail assembly which articulates the horizontal stabilizer”; basically, there was substandard thread life, which incidentally had been suggested as a maintenance replacement 2 years prior. Captain Whitaker, without a doubt, was the mastermind behind saving 96 out of 102 lives by ingeniously inverting the plane as it rapidly pitched into an uncontrolled descent from 7,000 ft; yet he was not innocent of being under the influence while at work. The present report investigates the potential real-life response to such emotional carry-on baggage as addiction to alcohol, sex, drugs, or illegal prescription drugs, examining the results of the responses to a questionnaire administered to airline personnel and non-airline personnel. The questionnaire asked respondents about their overall perception of the movie and requested accounts of any similarities to their own working or traveling experiences. The questionnaire also assessed respondents’ willingness to anonymously share their attitudes toward specific behaviors and decisions made by crewmembers and related airline representatives in the movie Flight, such as substance abuse, lying, and deceptive behavior. Other questions surveyed how an airline employee’s working relationship would be impacted by a fellow employee who exhibits addictive behavior or other types of emotional carry-on baggage. Air travelers were asked to reveal how addictive or other behavior affects their own travel experience and whether they were a loyal customer to a particular airline. This project involved discovering how safe a person really feels when boarding a plane. Are lives blithely placed in the hands of a stranger for whom passengers’ trust in his/her character and ability is automatically assumed or given? Should one question the accuracy of the current standards of medical and pathological testing for fatigue, substance abuse, and pilot professionalism, as well as safety reporting methods? Should the public have a right to know inside information? It is anticipated that the findings from this research will provide the basis for probing the complex issues involved in airline safety and provide a forum to discuss empowering the public to become more aware of the dangers of blind trust in airline personnel and policy.

The fear of flying and air rage—some legal issues

Fear of flying, which is increasingly becoming a unique human factors issue, has many facets, not all of which apply directly to flying itself. Some of these are: heights; enclosed spaces; crowded conditions; sitting in hot, stale air; being required to wait passively; not understanding the reasons for all the strange actions sounds and sensations occurring around; worrying about the dangers of turbulence; being dependant on an unknown pilot’s or mechanic’s judgment; not feeling in control; and the possibility of terrorism. Passenger hostility is a symptom of a blend of emotions and fear of flying is one of them. Other common symptoms are the threat of losing control, fatigue and personal and environmental stress. This could lead to self protection—in demanding alcohol, a particular seat or the right to smoke in the cabin. In the early days of flying, the role of the cabin crew was to alleviate passenger concerns by explaining the rules of aerodynamics, cloud formations and meteorology. They also acted as tour guides, particularly when the aircraft flew at low altitudes since large windows offered spectacular views that could alleviate fear. Fear of flying does not always result in air rage or criminal conduct on the part of the person concerned. However, the fact that fear of flying has the potential to make a normally calm and law abiding person turn into an offender is real. This article examines the fear of flying in all its chronological connotations, from pre flight check in to passenger conduct in the aircraft. It also examines various national legislation which enable an airline, as a measure of risk management, to refuse boarding to a passenger showing stress and acting aggressively. It also critically examines the various international treaties that empower the aircraft commander to take necessary measures against offences committed on board aircraft. The Conclusion suggests several measures that can be taken to address this issue more proactively.

Internet Guide to Travel Health

* Chapter 1. Introduction * Anatomy of a Web Site Address * Evaluating Web Content * Using Search Engines/Directories * Staying Healthy and Well * Chapter 2. General Travel Health Sites * Chapter 3. Pretravel Planning * Checklists * Health Certificates and Other Documents * Immunizations and Vaccinations * Medications, Devises, and Supplies * Predeparture Health Examinations * Travel Health Insurance * Chapter 4. Specific Issues and Concerns * Accidents * Automobile Travel * Bus or Train Travel * Children Traveling Alone and Traveling with Children * Contraindications to Travel * Cruise Ship Travel * Death * Disabilities * Evacuation Services * Health Tourism * Medical Care While Traveling * Medications * Natural Disasters * Pets Traveling Alone and Traveling with Pets * Quarantine * Seniors Traveling Alone and Traveling with Seniors * Weather * Women Traveling Alone * Chapter 5. Diseases, Conditions, and Ailments * Air Rage and Road Rage * Allergies and Asthma * Altitude Sickness * Arthritis * Back Problems * Bites and Stings * Cold Weather Conditions * Deep Vein Thrombosis * Dengue Fever and Other Hemorrhagic Fevers * Dental Problems * Diabetes * Diarrhea * Ear Problems * Exercise Before and During Travel * Fear of Flying * Food-Borne Illnesses * Hepatitis * HIV and AIDS * Jet Lag * Lung Diseases * Lyme Disease * Mad Cow Disease * Malaria * Motion Sickness * Pregnancy * Sunburn, Sunstroke, and Heat Exhaustion * West Nile Virus * Yellow Fever * Chapter 6. Interactive Tools * Chapter 7. Organizations * Chapter 8. Full-Text Publications * Glossary * Suggested Readings * Index * Reference Notes Included

Aviation insecurity: the new challenges of air travel

The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 (9/11), compelled the American public to view air travel as much more than merely another way of getting from point A to point B. An industry that was previously viewed as a routine component of modern transport is now seen as both a vital national asset and a vulnerable security risk. In a probing critique of aviation security since 9/11, this book examines the recent overhaul of the national aviation security system. Many continuing problems are noted, including millions of passenger bags that are still not screened or matched; the unresolved problem of air rage and unruly passenger behavior; air cargo that remains largely unchecked due to inadequate resources; and lax standards, the hiring of high-risk employees, and the failure to secure critical areas in many U.S. airports. A strategic approach for government and industry is outlined to meet new and existing threats while continuing to serve the public efficiently and effectively.

Causes and Consequences of Air Rage in Canada

To outline the causes and consequences of air rage, describe victims and perpetrators, suggest hypotheses for further study and compare road rage to air rage cases. We analyzed 29 air rage cases reported in the Canadian Press for the time period 1998 to 2000. It was found that excessive alcohol use and tobacco smoking were the most important precipitating factors. Physical aggression was common in air rage but serious injuries were not. The psychological stress of air rage for passengers must be considerable but it has not been assessed. Air rage and road rage are predominantly attributable to young males. However, alcohol and tobacco use are not important factors in road rage. Preventing air rage will be difficult and will depend on better training for airline staff. More research is needed on air rage, especially the role of mental illness and prescription drug use. Prospective studies of air rage cases are needed.

Road, Air Rage and Violent Threats in Taxis: Approaches for Prevention

This issue has articles on road rage, 1 air rage 2 and the health and safety threats experienced by visible minority taxi drivers in Toronto. 3 These three articles bring a behavioural and demographic perspective to injuries and identify opportunities for prevention. Unintentional injuries incur a significant burden for Ontario, affecting individuals and families either directly through an injury or financially through the economic burden injury places on us all. A recent report, entitled, Injury: Predictable and Preventable, 4 focuses on the burden of illness, multiple risk factors, challenges in prevention, strategies for prevention and recommendations for policy-makers, health professionals, communities, families and individuals. We now know some of the determinants of health and risk factors for preventable injury. Key determinants include income and social status, social support networks, education, employment/working conditions, social and physical environments, personal health practices and coping skills, healthy child development, biology and genetic endowment, health services, gender and culture. Although the mechanisms by which the determinants interact with injury risk are not well understood, there is good evidence linking these factors with an individual’s risk for the many causes of injury. While all people are at risk of being injured, there are definite patterns connected with age, gender, geography and socio-economic status. Using the principles of an injury prevention model, developed in draft by the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Subcommittee on Injury Prevention and Control 5 and a population health promotion approach, one could examine violence or the threat of violence, and develop approaches to prevention. The article on road rage 1 provides a first indication of the prevalence of road rage in Ontario. About half of the respondents were subjected to some form of intimidation and about a third admitted to being responsible for similar behaviours. Road rage is rampant. From this article, one may conclude that living in Toronto and being in the age group 18-34 years are significant risk factors for cursing, swearing and rude gestures. This may allow for targeted prevention programs to reduce the potential for injuries. Injuries from motor vehicle collisions are a significant contributor to unintentional injuries. Research evidence to support road rage as a predictor of MVAs is weak. However, if road rage accounts for a modest portion of health and economic problems from MVAs, road rage may be an important public health problem. Thus, a better understanding of the demographic characteristics of road rage victims and perpetrators could contribute to a reduction in injuries and the development of prevention interventions. The 29 cases of air rage in Canada analyzed in the article by Smart and Mann 2 point to alcohol and smoking as precipitating factors. The authors recommend better training for airline personnel as well as the provision of nicotine gum or patches to assist with nicotine withdrawal as a contributing factor towards air rage. Airlines in Canada now generally charge for alcoholic drinks on board the aircraft. Further, airline personnel are trained not

A violent heart: understanding aggressive individuals

Preface Introduction to Aggression Teach Me to Fish: The Development of Aggression Doli Incapax: Violence by Children A Port in a Storm: Gang Violence Till Death Do Us Part: Domestic Violence Monsters Among Us: Serial Killers Balance Due: Mass Murder Impulsive Murder: Road Rage, Air Rage, and Sports Rage Murder for Hire: Hired Assassins, Organized Crime Instructions from God: Hate Crimes Unwrapping the Enigma: Homicide Investigation The Parrot Speaks: Conclusion Bibliography Index

Alcohol-Related Air Rage: From Damage Control to Primary Prevention

Air rage is the term commonly used to describe a spectrum of disruptive behaviors on the part of airline passengers during flight. Systematic research on the problem barely exists. Based on the information available, we believe air rage is preventable in so far as its causes can be identified. Three important triggers are alcohol consumption, mental instability and environmental stress. Our recommendations for primary prevention include reduced alcohol service in airports and onboard aircraft, internationally coordinated data collection and airline-sponsored public service messages. Roughly 40% of air rage incidents are considered alcohol-related. Therefore, we particularly recommend reduced availability of alcoholic beverages in airports and airplanes.