Tougher penalties for ‘air rage’
From today air rage offenders can face up to five years in prison, after the introduction of the Aviation Offences Act received Royal Assent on Thursday.
The previous sentence for endangering the safety of an aircraft was just two years. Police will now also have automatic powers or arrest, following concerns that the previous legislation did not allow them to take suspects into custody on arrival.
Aviation Minister Tony McNulty commented: “Hooliganism is as unacceptable in the air as it is on our football terraces, and we are determined to clamp down hard. This change to the law sends out a clear message that loutish behaviour will not be tolerated.”
As well as the most serious offence of endangering the safety of an aircraft, people can also be prosecuted for being drunk and smoking onboard, acting in a disruptive manner, and disobeying a lawful command by the commander of an aircraft.
Labour MP Frank Roy MP, who sponsored the act, claimed that the changes to the law had been “eagerly awaited by the police and those who work in the airline industry”.
Last year 648 serious or significant incidents onboard planes were reported to the Civil Aviation Authority by airlines. It is not known how many of these cases of air rage resulted in police action, but officers or security staff attended 191 incidents involving the disruptive behaviour of passengers.
