U.K. Proposes Ban on Unruly Behaviour, After Passenger, Allegedly Tried to Break into Cockpit
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By Staff Writer
After British low-cost carrier Jet2 called for a nationwide ban on unruly passengers last month, the U.K. government has begun working on a proposal to prevent disruptive passengers from flying with any airline.
Such a database does not currently exist in the U.K., and, as a result, an individual banned from one airline can book with another.
A national database would be managed by the airlines and the government, but data protection laws in the U.K. could be a significant roadblock.
Airlines U.K., a trade association, also supports the idea, and a spokesperson said, “Additional measures for the most serious cases of disruption, including the creation of a national ban list, is an important next step ensuring a tiny minority of passengers cannot disrupt air travel for the majority.”
The Department for Transport is planning to meet with airlines to discuss implementation.
“Everyone should be able to enjoy a pint at the airport, but antisocial behavior on flights is totally unacceptable,” a government source told the BBC.
And in the United States of America, on a recent flight from Puerto Rico to Chicago, a passenger tried to open the emergency exit, choked an off-duty flight attendant, and attempted to break into the cockpit.
Fortunately, a former MMA fighter was aboard and stepped up to restrain the unruly passenger.
The incident occurred on a Frontier flight last week when 51-year-old Juan Reyes tried to open the exit, saying he wanted to leave. He ignored crew instructions to sit down and charged toward the cockpit.
The passenger was moved to a different seat, and an off-duty flight attendant volunteered to sit beside him to keep watch.
However, the man attacked the flight attendant after being asked not to touch his belongings. Reyes choked him, and other passengers intervened. One of them was John Longood, a former MMA professional and jiu-jitsu black belt.
Longood subdued Reyes and held him until the plane diverted to Miami. Reyes was arrested upon landing and now faces federal charges of assault and crew interference, with a potential maximum prison term of 20 years.
