A TUI flight to Gothenburg was forced to land after a violent incident, highlighting a growing trend of in-flight disturbances. Aviation expert Jan Ohlsson notes a dramatic increase in such events over the past 30 years, with captains more frequently opting to land planes due to unruly passengers. Factors like cramped seating and delays contribute to the issue, and disruptive passengers are increasingly held financially accountable.
Dramatic Rise in In-Flight Incidents: Expert Weighs In After TUI Chaos
Dramatic Rise in In-Flight Incidents: Expert Weighs In After TUI Chaos
A TUI flight was forced to land on Wednesday after violence erupted on board. This comes as no surprise to aviation expert Jan Ohlsson.
On Wednesday, violence broke out on a flight heading to Gothenburg from Gran Canaria. A woman began screaming and hitting her fellow passengers, forcing the plane to land in Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Several shocked passengers told Expressen they had never experienced anything like it.
– It was incredibly traumatic. I will never forget this. I have just been working on not being afraid of flying, said Sawza, 28, who was hit and had her hair pulled.
"Dramatic Increase"
Aviation expert Jan Ohlsson has observed a dramatic increase in disturbances on flights over the past 30 years, with captains more frequently choosing to land planes.
– Now, conflicts occur in a completely different way than before. I have never, in several thousand flights, witnessed a fight on a plane, but now the risk is significantly higher, he says.
The trend is also visible in Sweden.
– Nowadays, planes have to land to drop off unruly passengers a few times a month, just in Europe. It is the captain's decision whether to land and call the police, he says.
And it is not uncommon for violent passengers to be restrained and tied down on board.
Poorer Atmosphere
According to Jan Ohlsson, there could be many reasons for the increasing disturbances in the air. Airlines often blame high alcohol consumption, but Jan Ohlsson does not believe that is the whole answer.
– The atmosphere on the ground has also worsened – long queues, cramped security checks. We sit more tightly in economy class, it's more crowded and there are more delays. This contributes to people going crazy, he says.
– And it is a big problem that planes have to land so often. It causes delays, poor working conditions, people not reaching their destinations, and it is incredibly expensive. Costs for airlines quickly reach hundreds of thousands of kronor, he says.
Passengers Increasingly Pay
It is becoming more common for disruptive passengers to pay the bill after a landing. Jan Ohlsson is aware of cases in the UK where passengers have had to pay large sums in damages to the airline and have been banned from flying with the airline again.
Earlier this year, Ryanair sued a passenger for 170,000 kronor after behaving "completely unacceptable" on a flight between Dublin and Lanzarote.
Several passengers on the TUI flight wondered why the violent woman was allowed to board at all, as she seemed intoxicated even at boarding. It is difficult for aviation expert Jan Ohlsson to determine if any mistake was made, but generally, he says, check-in staff are cautious about denying passengers boarding.
– It is not always the airline itself that handles check-in, and I would think that airlines would like to see more passengers stopped before they are allowed on board.