Barely a day passes without publicity about onboard shenanigans by some miscreant or bunch of yobs. The latest – a United Airlines plane carrying 123 passengers from New Jersey to Israel turned around within about 90 minutes of takeoff after two economy riders decided they would self-upgrade to business class, refused to move and incited a riot.
Just what is going on with passengers? What overhyped, egotistical louts, with under developed powers of reasoning, courtesy, consideration and civility would behave in such a manner. These pampered, entitled, overindulged, spoiled and just plain stupid fools need to be fined and banned from airlines long enough to make them understand that such behaviour is unacceptable. Will it work? Probably not. But something needs to be done. Something that will make a difference and stop the nonsense.
So, the latest story has these two bright sparks upgrading themselves to business and provoking a riot when they were ushered back to what they paid for.
Last Wednesday, a flight from Miami to London turned around mid-trip after a passenger refused to comply with the federal mask mandate on planes.
Two weeks ago a soccer player refused to mask, threw a can at a passenger, kicked the seat in front of him (this is a grown man doing this), mooned the flight attendants, refused to sit down for landing and was belligerent and disrespectful to the pilot. He is currently on bail in Miami waiting to take up a job teaching soccer – some teacher.
Of course, in Canada we had our own little airborne booze and vape party – Montreal to Cancun – Oh such fun! Have all that lot found their way home yet – after the airlines declined to carry them?
What’s this all about?
Who are these ill-mannered, headline grabbing buffoons, and why do they save their worst selves for travel. Does 15 minutes of fame really thrill them that much? Will Mum and Dad pay the fines? This is not high spirited, fun loving behaviour. These are overindulged, (often) drunken, vulgar, uncouth, overindulged boors.
They do not care that they ruin a trip – perhaps an important one for others on the flight – perhaps a grandmother going to see her first grandchild, a husband heading home after a long business trip, a woman trying to reach gravely sick relatives, a businesswoman with a deadline, honeymooners, or some poor soul tired and looking forward to getting home without drama.
Nothing really matter to these selfish, arrogant, belligerent idiots (if the word was good enough from the Prime Minister – it’s fine for me.)
So how does it stop. I’d suggest leaving them at their destination to find their own way home as one airline did. Charging them with everything you can. Fines. Big fines – including punitive fines for the other passengers who were inconvenienced. Ban them from flying for a given period – say 1 to 5 years depending on the severity of their misbehaviour.
Oh yes, if their behaviour has caused anyone on board to be hurt or made ill – a jail sentence should not be off the table.
Harsh? Sure. But these antics are getting big play in the media and they are getting out of hand. Time to stop them. And the only way to do that is to make the penalty more than a slap on the wrist and the media coverage less entertaining and more derisive.
Shame is what they should feel.