Almost 200 flights disrupted by passengers

Almost 200 UK flights were disrupted by unruly passengers in the first six months of the year, new figures show.

Regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which published the data, called for more travellers to be prosecuted for violent and drunken behaviour.

It recorded 193 incidents of disruption on board Ukregisteredaircraftbetween January and June, down from 219 in the same period in 2017.

The annual number of cases has risen from 98 in 2013 to 417 last year.

CAA director Richard Stephenson said: “Criminal charges should be brought against offenders more often to act as a deterrent.

“Passengers need to know they will face the full weight of the law should they be found guilty of disorderly behaviour.”