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Should Airlines Implement Stricter Alcohol Limits to Prevent Midair Disruptions?
Should Airlines Implement Stricter Alcohol Limits to Prevent Midair Disruptions?
Here’s The Scoop
An easyJet flight from London Gatwick to Kos, Greece, turned into a midair nightmare due to the reckless actions of an allegedly drunk passenger. This incident highlights the growing issue of airline safety and the need for stricter regulations on alcohol consumption before and during flights.
Flight U28235, which took off just after 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, encountered turbulence that seemed to set off the intoxicated passenger. Fueled by whiskey, the unruly individual began verbally attacking the captain, calling him “rubbish,” and causing a chaotic scene at 30,000 feet.
EasyJet confirmed that the emergency landing was necessitated by a “passenger behaving disruptively onboard.” The situation escalated into a physical altercation, with the drunken passenger clashing with others and even damaging the onboard intercom system.
The flight was diverted to Munich International Airport, where German police swiftly boarded the aircraft, handcuffed the troublemaker, and removed him to the cheers of relieved passengers. One passenger was hailed as a hero for restraining the disruptive man until the plane landed safely.
The cabin crew’s bravery was commendable, but the incident left many passengers shaken. EasyJet emphasized that passenger safety is their top priority and that their crew is trained to handle such situations effectively. Nevertheless, the airline apologized for the inconvenience caused to the remaining passengers, who were provided with hotel accommodations and meals before continuing their journey the next day.
This incident underscores the need for stricter alcohol regulations at airports. Last month, Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary called for a two-drink limit for passengers to curb such disruptive behavior. O’Leary suggested that passengers should show their boarding passes to buy alcohol and be restricted to two drinks, especially during flight delays.
What do you think? Let us know by participating in our poll, or join the discussion in the comment section below!
Lesley Greehy
September 9, 2024 at 9:33 am
On a recent Easyjet flight from Belfast to Faro there were three drunk women sitting behind us. Initially, one wasn’t even sitting in her seat but walking the aisle as the plane was pushing back! We endured nearly all of the flight with loud, screeching foul-mouthed language by these three. During the flight one jumped up and opened the overhead locker from where a her metal water bottle fell out and hit my elderly cousin on the cheek very near her eye! No apologies. Nothing. These three should not have been allowed to travel. It was a journey from hell for us. They gave the flight attendants dreadful abuse when they disembarked. I wish I had taken a video but didn’t want to inflame the situation. Next time, I will speak up before plane takes off.
Dan Heartsill
September 9, 2024 at 12:40 pm
First thing that would help greatly is to close the bars in airports. People drink while waiting and don’t know when to stop. I know they make a lot of money on bars but they also need to stop the problems.
Jerry C.
September 9, 2024 at 5:13 pm
Just issue the Flight Attendants tasers.