By Kim Tae-jong
Staff Reporter
Passenger misconduct or air rage incidents pose a grave threat to the safety of flights, but preventive legal action to stem them are far from adequate, leading to a steady rise in such misbehavior.
According to two Korean national flag carriers ― Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, air rage offences increased by 42 percent to 94 cases in 2007 from 66 in 2006.
``Unruly behavior aboard can be a serious threat to the flight. Fortunately, we haven't seen serious cases of air rage yet and most are brought under control, but we always guard against it,'' said Lim Jae-beom, the assistant manager of corporate communications at Korean Air.
Air rage involves disruptive and violent behavior perpetrated by passengers during a flight. Being drunk on an aircraft, smoking in the toilet or using mobile phones during a flight are also punishable, according to the Aviation Offences Law.
By law, air rage offenders can face up to a 5 million won fine ($5,000) and are also eligible for other penalties depending on damage to the aircraft and injury to other passengers and crew members.
One of the most recent cases took place last Sunday on a flight to Incheon International Airport from Las Vegas involving a 65-year-old man.
The man verbally assaulted a female flight attendant when he was asked to remain seated with his seat belt fastened during turbulence. He was indicted without physical detention after the flight landed.
In another case, on March 5, a drunk man in his 40s began punching the seat in front of him after being annoyed by the sound of a baby crying. His violent actions continued for 10 minutes while he verbally abused flight attendants and other passengers who tried to calm him down. On landing, he was taken to the airport police.
Some other cases have involved physical assault on flight crew and other passengers.
Last Monday, a 68-year-old man on a flight to Washington from Incheon airport verbally and physically assaulted a female flight attendant and was arrested by U.S. airport police when the flight landed.
But despite the possible risks from such air rage incidents, the punishment seems comparatively lenient.
The most severe punishment in Korea is a 1 million won in fine. However, in the United Kingdom, for example, air rage offenders can now face up to five years behind bars after the law was tightened through a new Aviation Offences Act.
``It is necessary to have stricter measures or laws to properly keep air rage offenses under control in order to protect passengers,'' Lim said.
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