In a stern rebuke against discourteous behavior towards flight attendants, a private pilot has called for passengers to recognize that these professionals are primarily responsible for the safety of all on board, rather than merely serving passengers’ needs. Morgan Gist MacDonald, reportedly affiliated with Firefly Aviation according to Fox News, expressed concern over the growing lack of respect exhibited by some passengers toward flight attendants.
MacDonald stated, “I’ve seen some bad behavior. People speaking disrespectfully to flight attendants and they, for the most part, ignore it. So I think they could actually be more strict in some sense.” She pointed out that flight attendants are often more tolerant and patient than passengers may perceive when dealing with disruptive incidents.
These comments come amidst an alarming increase in unruly passenger behavior across the aviation industry. Recent incidents range from passengers causing flights to turn around due to forgotten baggage, to physical altercations between passengers and crew members, and even threats of terrorism. This escalation prompted air industry organizations to highlight the growing frequency of confrontations between passengers and flight personnel.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported a rise in unruly passenger incidents from 2021 to 2022. With one unruly incident per 568 flights in 2022, up from one incident per 835 flights in 2021, the IATA raised concerns about the spike in physical abuse cases as well, which saw a 61% increase from 2021.
The Association of Flight Attendants has advocated for improved self-defense training for crew members in light of these escalating incidents. Their efforts have resulted in provisions within a new US Senate aviation bill that require airlines to provide flight attendants with training on how to “subdue and restrain” unruly passengers.
While the luxurious experience of private air travel might seem insulated from such incidents, the broader concerns resonate across the aviation sector. Disruptive behavior compromises the safety and well-being of everyone on board, necessitating a collective commitment to respectful conduct within the aviation community.
