Incidents are increasing in Switzerland: Police had to be deployed 200 times due to crowded passengers

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Swiss flight LX1418 to Belgrade was originally supposed to depart with a two-hour delay in early December. However, a stubborn guest prevented the takeoff at the last minute. According to “20 Minutes,” an intoxicated woman defied crew instructions, attacked officers and eventually had to be picked up from the tarmac by several officers and put into a box truck. The plane had to taxi back to the gate and all 146 passengers were rebooked.

Passengers who rebel, bully, secretly smoke or disobey instructions despite the ban have long been a nuisance for airlines. Swiss airlines reported 1,347 incidents to the Federal Civil Aviation Authority (Bazl) last year. This amounts to almost four incidents a day with so-called Unruly Travelers.

One in five incidents involved smoking on the plane (286), followed by verbal outbursts (285) and ignoring flight staff instructions (255); for example, passengers refused to wear their seat belts. Alcohol or drug use played a role in 137 cases.

Bazl spokesman Christian Schubert says airlines are increasingly concerned about the alcohol consumption they bring with them. In 2023, 111 cases were reported. For safety reasons, these are not allowed to be consumed on board; This is because the crew cannot keep track of the amount passengers consume.

15 cases of sexual harassment

There are also violations during animal transportation and physical attacks between passengers or against the crew. 15 cases of sexual harassment were also reported.

In 2023, airlines informed Bazl for the first time how often the police should be called: they had to be deployed approximately 200 times to maintain order. This is very striking, says Schubert.

Fines of 400 to 1000 francs

Bazl filed a total of 112 lawsuits in 2023, more than in previous years; for smoking on board, consumption of alcohol brought with you, failure to comply with crew instructions and breach of shipping obligations. Those affected must be fined between 400 and 1,000 francs. However, in 2022, the sensitive catalog was organized as Schubert wrote. “Fines have been doubled or quadrupled for some offences.”

The numbers were significantly lower in 2021 and 2020, with 748 and 425 incidents. Reason: Corona epidemic. In 2022, most of the advertising was about defying Covid rules. Masks were still required on many flights in the first few months.

Source :Blick