Air Canada employees have detained an out-of-control teenage boy who allegedly attacked one of his relatives while the plane was in flight.
A flight from Toronto to Calgary on Wednesday afternoon was diverted to Winnipeg, where a 16-year-old suspect was arrested, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said.
Police said the suspect's name was not released because of his age and the victim was treated at the scene for minor injuries, but they did not say what prompted the assault.
It's the latest example of a disturbing trend of unruly passengers that has soared to historic levels in 2021.
Top 5 aviation accidents in 2023
Air Canada's Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft lands at London Heathrow International Airport, United Kingdom, August 2, 2019. (Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
From 2017 to 2020, the number of passenger misconduct reports never exceeded 1,200, according to Federal Aviation Administration statistics.
The FAA then reported an explosive increase of 492% from 2020 (1,009 cases) to 2021 (5,983 cases).
The plane erupts into chaos when a 'possessed' woman starts screaming and jumps over her seat: 'There's a real demon'
Tayshia Best has worked as a flight attendant for JetBlue Airways for the past nine years and is president of the Orlando Chapter of Transportation Workers Union Local 579. told TheStreet. She has seen some of the most disgusting behavior in recent years.
One example she gave was about a passenger who peed into an empty bottle in front of other passengers and called a flight attendant the “C-word.”
Airline passenger numbers reached historic levels in 2021, but still have not returned to pre-pandemic levels, according to FAA statistics. (FAA)
“The planes are more substantial, but the attitude is also more substantial,” Best told TheStreet during a Q&A in December. “We have seen significant changes due to COVID-19. The stress of COVID-19 itself has had a negative impact on customer behavior onboard aircraft.
“At some point, almost every airline removed the ability to purchase alcohol on board because they believed it was a major factor in customer aggressive behavior.”
United Airlines passenger tries to enter cockpit and opens exit door
It's unclear what charges the teenager will face in the Air Canada incident, but last spring a violent incident on a U.S. flight led to a federal lawsuit.
As of August 2023, the FAA has referred more than 20 cases that occurred in the United States between December 2021 and April 2023 to the FBI for federal prosecution.
“Unruly behavior raises serious safety concerns for both passengers and crew, which is why we are actively addressing this issue,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in an August 2023 statement. ” he said. “If you commit the act on a plane, you may be subject to criminal prosecution and fines of up to $37,000 per violation.”
According to the FAA, the number of airline fraudulent passengers reported each June from June 2017 to June 2023. (FAA)
Best told TheStreet that while flight attendants want to connect with travelers and their families, “we also have to understand that we are airline employees who want to connect with our families when we get home from work.” ” he said.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“When you are assaulted and have to stop for medical treatment, it becomes difficult and causes delays that impact not only the operations of the airline industry, but also the customers on that aircraft,” Best said. he told the press.
