This threatens passengers if they riot on the plane

Sun -hungry or party -loving holidaymakers – and sometimes also flight chaots: Palma de Mallorca AirportTurntable for millions of tourists, made it to the top of a rather inglorious statistics in 2024: With 169 official advertisements for rioting passengers, the Mallorcan Airport Son Sant Joan is one of all Spanish airports. With in the game with such incidents that often get on Mallorcabut also play elsewhere, according to the aviation authorities, alcohol is mostly.

One of the recent incidents occurred on a Mallorca flight in March. « Because he had apparently consumed too much alcohol, a 53-year-old German caused a start-up break from a holiday plane to Mallorca on Sunday evening at Bremen Airport, » reports the German Federal Police, who is responsible for security at Bremen Airport. The officials had to get the aggressive passenger out of the machine.

Ryanair defends himself against rioting passengers

What had happened? « While the pilot was already steering the plane to the runway, the man noticed because he ignored the safety instructions. He also behaved verbally aggressively and threatening to the crew staff. The pilot decided to reverse the starting position and exclude the alcoholic passenger from the flight, » says the police report. The man was reported for a violation of the Air Security Act.

However, the story is not yet over: In addition to a fine, the passenger also threatens a high compensation claim for the airline concerned. In this case, it was Ryanair. The largest airline in Europe after passenger volumewhich also maintains most flight connections to Mallorca, is particularly active in the fight against conflicting people. The Irish airline is taking a tough zero tolerance policy against renitate travelers.

Passenger ignites a cigarette despite the ban on smoking on board

Several out of control, passengers were already felt- not only with the mallorca or start goal: in January a flight from the Canary Islands To the Spanish pilgrimage city of Santiago de Compostela Only start with a 40-minute delay because a man refused to follow the instructions of the crew and became aggressive. He also did not save that he claimed to be a UN diplomat-the police took him off. Ryanair announced a claim for damages against the passenger.

A Ryanair traveler in Malta was recently sentenced to a fine of 2,000 euros because he wanted to light a cigarette from a flight from Cologne to Malta-despite strict smoke ban. In January, Ryanair filed a lawsuit against another traveler who crossed Lanzarote during a flight from Dublin and caused an emergency landing in Porto Porto. Other airlines also affect: An Aer-Lingus jet had to do not land a few months ago on the way from Ireland to Mallorca in Nantes, French because a husband attacked his wife on the plane.

Airline association: « Problematic passengers are a growing problem »

« It is unacceptable that passengers-many of whom travel with family or friends to enjoy a relaxing vacation-suffer unnecessary disorders due to the behavior of a unruly passenger, » says a Ryanair spokesman. The claims for damages against conflict -like passengers are only one of the many consequences with which travelers who prevent normal flight drain should calculate. With its hard line, Ryanair relies on deterrence. « We hope that these measures will prevent further disturbing behavior on flights. »

« Problematic passengers are a growing problem that is difficult to solve, » says the Spanish Airline Association ALA. The Spanish flight safety authority Aesa also states: « In recent years, the number of complaints against passengers due to incidents that are due to inappropriate behavior on commercial flights has increased significantly. » And she warns: « Miskeeping during the flight can lead to fines of up to 5,000 euros. In the event of the flight, the costs must be borne by the passenger. »

The airlines are increasingly relying on prevention: Even when boarding, striking passengers are to be identified in order to avoid escalations during the flight. If there are any problems, clear protocols use: alcohol is no longer served, aggressive passengers are warned or if necessary removed by security forces. A general ban on alcohol on board or at the airports is also discussed – but an agreement is not in sight.