Hundreds of passengers in drink-related arrests

HUNDREDS of passengers have been arrested on suspicion of being drunk on a plane or at an airport in the last two years, figures reveal.

At least 273 people were held in 2017 and 2018, police statistics obtained by the Press Association show.

Cases include a drunk passenger accused of fighting with someone while on board a plane, and a man allegedly shouting and swearing at a pilot.

Alleged incidents at airports include a man brandishing a knife at customer services staff at Aberdeen Airport after he was refused travel, and a man punching an airside bar manager at Glasgow Airport as he would not serve him any more alcoholic drinks.

The figures come as the Government considers scrapping round-the-clock drinking in airport bars by extending high street licensing laws, which would mean no alcohol before 10am.

Under current rules, drink sales beyond security gates at international airports in England and Wales are not regulated by these laws.

The Home Office launched the review on November 1, with a three-month call for evidence.

A spokesman for Airlines UK, the trade association for UK airlines, said: “The problem of disruptive behaviour has got progressively worse over a number of years, despite the best efforts of industry to tackle it.”

Figures show 48 people were arrested on suspicion of being drunk on an aircraft in 2017, and 42 in 2018 to date. For the police forces that gave information, a further 104 arrests were made relating to alleged drunkenness at airports in 2017, with 68 this year to date.