Flight crew under attack
Man had to be restrained partway through a flight from Los Angeles to Auckland
Abusiness class passenger allegedly attacking a flight attendant after drinking and taking sleeping tablets, has sparked a warning from Air New Zealand.
The airline says verbal and physical attacks on air crew have been increasing and bad behaviour will not be tolerated on board.
It follows an arrest yesterday after an abusive business class passenger was handcuffed on board an Air New Zealand flight from Los Angeles and detained on arrival in Auckland about 6am.
“Unfortunately, we’ve seen an increase in verbal and physical abuse and poor attitudes towards our staff in the past year as more customers try to consume too much alcohol, and in some cases do so when on medication or in a state of extreme overtiredness,” said Air NZ general manager cabin crew Leeanne Langridge.
She said the airline would not tolerate any poor behaviour.
“The safety of our crew and customers is paramount and Air New
Zealand will issue offending customers with travel bans should customers fail to comply with crew instructions.”
A police spokesman confirmed one person had been taken into custody yesterday morning.
The incident occurred about a third of the way into the 121⁄2 hour NZ5 service to Auckland, as the almostfull Boeing 777 crossed Hawaii at an altitude of more than 10,000 metres.
The man, who was later heard to describe himself as a 50-year-old Norwegian who worked with UFC fighters, was marched to the back of the economy section, arms cuffed behind his back, and held there for the rest of the flight.
He appeared intoxicated and was slurring his words, and went from confused to confrontational to contrite while talking to members of the flight crew.
There were also bursts of abuse and frequent shouts for his travelling companion who remained in business class.
Several passengers near the seat the man was cuffed to were moved, while others were offered noisecancelling headphones.
“It was initially disconcerting,” said one of them. “You see someone handcuffed on a flight and all sorts of fears flash through your mind.
“The crew handled it brilliantly, remaining calm and constructive, despite provocation and, it seems, an attack on one of their own.”
Later, the man, who also described himself as a documentary maker and ex-army, started shouting that he needed a doctor, referring to his human rights and complaining the cuffs were too tight.
Different crew members were heard to tell the man he had punched, slapped and kicked one of their colleagues after he was refused alcohol. Initially denying such actions, as the flight neared Auckland the man could be heard talking to a crew member about mixing medication with alcohol.
After the plane reached the gate, the man, who appeared to have “come round”, apologised to two crew members.
One replied that it wasn’t the first time he’d seen things go badly when sleeping tablets and alcohol were mixed on board and it wouldn’t be the last — he had seen passengers get naked and rip doors off toilets.