Drunken jet passengers to be fined on the spot
BOOZED-UP airline passengers who cause trouble during flights could face on-the-spot fines of up to £500, it has been revealed.
“Air rage” fuelled by alcohol is a growing concern, with one-in-six flyers experiencing loutish behaviour in the past three years.
Now ministers are considering tough new measures to crack down on rowdy and aggressive antics by giving police officers powers to dish out instant fines.
Currently, passengers found to be drunk on aircraft have to be taken to court for breaching air navigation rules.
The Department of Transport is also looking at sealed bags for duty-free booze to stop passengers drinking their own, imposing a two-drink limit in airport bars and overhauling airport licencing laws.
Aviation Minister Baroness Sugg said: “Disruptive behaviour can ruin flights for both passengers and crew. Airports and airlines have made good progress in addressing this behaviour but with incidents on the rise, we want to examine the existing prevention work and penalties to see what more can be done.”
The Airport Operators Association welcomed the possibility of on-the-spot fines. Under the plans, airport police would meet drunks at the gate and take them to a base on site to pay the fine. Non-payment could lead to a higher penalty charge.
Figures from the Civil Aviation Authority show 420 disruptive passenger incidents were reported to the regulator in 2017.