People are flying again. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported that the industry continues to recover. Total traffic in 2023 rose 36.9% compared to 2022, which equates to 94.1% of pre-pandemic (2019) levels.
However, our behavior hasn't really improved. On the contrary, unruly passenger incidents have also been rising, so we at Bored Panda decided to put together a collection of pictures showing some of the most egotistical travelers. Hopefully, they will serve as a reminder to remain considerate and respect others.
#1 How People Leave An Airplane. Unbelievable The Lack Of Respect People Have. This Is An Air Algiers Flight From Montreal To Algeria
Image credits: DoftheG
#2 It's Fine, I Didn't Want To Watch Anyway
Image credits: MarthaFarcuss
Pre-pandemic, figures recorded by the IATA indicated unruly airplane passengers were on the rise. Discussions about the issue were ramping up, and in 2019, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) even launched and initiative called #notonmyflight, aiming to increase awareness.
During the peak Covid years, fewer flights didn’t equal fewer problems – at least not in the US, where reported incidents rose.
#3 This Idiot Eating Pistachio Nuts And Throwing The Shells On The Floor Of A Plane
Image credits: lolo795
#4 My Captain Friend Sent Me This Photo. Saudi Prince Bought Ticket For His 80 Hawks
Image credits: lensoo
#5 Average Flight Experience
Image credits: jessiechar
In early 2021, Federal Aviation Authority data reached what an FAA spokesperson said was “record highs,” with many altercations based around the then-mandated face mask rule.
As American flight attendant Susannah Carr told CNN Travel that year: "I come in expecting to have a passenger that could potentially get violent."
#6 Red-Eye Flight From Seattle To NY, And I Don’t Know These Kids. That’s My Seat In The Middle
Image credits: reddit.com
#7 I’m Sorry, But Who Does This? The Flight Attendants Are Not Your Mothers
Image credits: jenschap
#8 I Absolutely Hate It When People Do This
Image credits: ErmineOfMight
The number of reported incidents in the US have since fallen, but remain notably higher than pre-pandemic levels.
Plus, IATA and FAA data can only tell us so much (not every airline that's part of IATA submits data, while not every airline records every instance of unruly behavior).
Thus, the conversation around disruptive passengers, including the ones we see in these pictures remains heated.
#9 Dude Spent The Majority Of A Late Night Flight Watching TV With Speakers Full Blast. Said He "Didn't Have Headphones"
Image credits: vita_di_tyra
#10 Drying The Undies In Front Of The Plane's AC
Image credits: facebook.com
#11 This Mom Shares Colorful Travel Hack To Keep Toddlers Quiet On Flights
“These are a great tool to pull out when the iPad has run its course. I prefer to let my toddler use these when I want him to go to sleep, because the iPad stimulates him and I find it’s harder to get him to sleep. And we all know a sleeping toddler on a long flight is a MAJOR WIN.”
Image credits: instagram.com
#12 One Batch Of Clear Air Turbulence, And That Passenger Will Need More Than Yoga To Repair Their Back
Image credits: thecrewlounge
IATA classifies unruly behavior incidents into four levels:
- Level 1 is “minor” (IATA’s 'Cabin Operations Safety Best Practice Manual' suggests this could be argumentative behavior or non-compliance with safety regulations);
- Level 2 is “moderate” (physically aggressive behavior, for example);
- Level 3 is “serious” (i.e. dangerous behavior, an “intent or threat to injure,” as IATA puts it);
- and Level 4 is “flight deck breach” (which IATA classifies as “credible threat of death).
#13 Trying To Watch A Movie On The Airplane
Image credits: carlitos_sagan
#14 The Man In The Seat Across From Me Has Taken His Pants Off For The Flight And Is Just In His Boxers. After That, He Also Removed His Socks
Image credits: Lizzie_Thompson
#15 Some People Should Just Stay Home Or Drive In Their Own Vehicles
Image credits: influencersinthewild
#16 On My Flight And In My Bubble
Image credits: Responsible-Ad-2181
According to the latest available IATA data from 2022, there was one unruly incident reported for every 568 flights that year, up from one per 835 flights in 2021.
The most common categorizations of incidents in 2022 were non-compliance, verbal abuse and intoxication. Physical abuse incidents remain very rare, but these had an alarming increase of 61% over 2021, occurring once every 17,200 flights.
#17 My Dad Sent Me This Picture From His Plane Ride Today
Image credits: biracial_lizard
#18 Sometimes You Gotta Let Them Breathe
Image credits: ElGuayaba
#19 This Woman Just Dropping Her Food Tray In The Middle Of The Aisle Of The Plane
Image credits: speeddemon266
#20 When There Were No Manners Left In The Gen Pool
Image credits: shichan1517
Although non-compliance incidents initially fell after the mask mandates were lifted, the frequency began to rise again throughout 2022 and ended the year some 37% up on 2021. The most common examples of non-compliance were:
- Smoking of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, vapes and puff devices in the cabin or lavatories;
- Failure to fasten seatbelts when instructed;
- Exceeding the carry-on baggage allowance or failing to store baggage when required;
- Consumption of own alcohol on board.
#21 What I Had To Deal With On An 11-Hour Flight Yesterday (I'm The Grey Sweatpants)
Image credits: Ele_phant909
#22 Person Kept Resting Their Hand On The Screen And Accidentally Touching Buttons On An Overseas Flight
Image credits: mediumRareDev
#23 Pedicures On Planes Are Absolutely Not Okay. Keep Personal Grooming Personal
Image credits: lifesatripwithsk
#24 Naked Feet On Planes Should Be Illegal No Matter How Far Apart We Are
Image credits: Throwaway273489
In their 2023 document called 'Even safer and more enjoyable air travel for all: A strategy for reducing unruly and disruptive passenger incidents,' IATA highlights that while “only a tiny minority” of passengers behave badly, these travelers “have a disproportionate impact.”
#25 The Lady Next To Me On The Plane Spilled Her Whole Drink, Got Up, And Moved Over One Seat. She Just Left All The Ice On The Floor And Kicked Her Empty Food Carton Under
Image credits: BanannaKarenina
#26 Parents That Let Their Kids Deface A 3-Month-Old Plane
Image credits: ooochaoboocha
#27 It Is My First Time On An Airplane In Over A Year And This Guy Is Peeling One Dozen Hard Boiled Eggs For His Family In My Row. Would Give Anything To Be Alone In My House
Image credits: usarasa
#28 On My Flight Today
Image credits: LolaBijou
#29 Luckily Had No One Sitting In My Row For A 10-Hour Flight And Then… This
Image credits: Goodguybadd
#30 Poor Parenting
Image credits: NoWrongdoer6386
#31 The Woman Next To Me Stretched Out Her Leg Into My Leg Space On The Plane
Image credits: uhshavaughn
#32 This Man’s Laptop Set On Maximum Brightness In A Dark Flight
Image credits: performative-pretzel
#33 Goblin Spying On Me During A Plane Trip
Image credits: HeavyLoungin
#34 Let Me Just Air Out My Stinky Shoes For Everyone On The Plane To Smell
Image credits: cody4king
#35 Wants To Record The Whole Flight From The Middle Seat
Image credits: LocallySourcedWeirdo
#36 Today On A Flight From Philadelphia To Denver. That’s My Sister In Front Of Her
Image credits: i-hate-pumpkin-spice
#37 The Man Next To Me On My Flight Today Put His Phone On My Leg Without Asking While He Was Digging Through His Bag
Image credits: False_Concentrate408
#38 This Guy Making Everyone Walk Around Him To Board Their Plane
Image credits: Ak47110
#39 Delayed For 3 Hours… Just To Have This Guy Blasting A Movie On His Phone The Whole Flight. Flight Attendants Did Nothing
Image credits: spidermonkey2947
#40 Interesting
Image credits: QGSkieur
#41 Woman Saving An Entire Row Of Plane Seats Behind Her With Donut Bags
Image credits: Hog_Fan
#42 Man Snacking On A Bag Of Smelly Hard-Boiled Eggs While I Was Waiting For My Flight
Image credits: Low_Currency_990
#43 Fully Reclined Plane Seat And A Possible Theft
Image credits: 2Binspired
#44 This Person Reading On Their iPad With The Brightness All The Way Up On A 6-Hour Red-Eye Flight
Image credits: boobymoon
#45 This Couple On My Flight The Other Day
Image credits: anthnyshark
#46 Either This Or Jumping Out Of His Seat The Whole Flight
Image credits: Sea_Voice_404
#47 The Plane Hasn't Even Taken Off Yet
Image credits: hpbojoe
#48 Look At This Jerk On My Flight Back Home
Image credits: Poseidons_Champion
#49 Man On My Southwest Flight Tying Battery Wires Together Mid-Flight
Image credits: TRUST_ME_IM_BLACK
#50 My Girlfriend Just Sent Me This From Her Flight To Chicago
Image credits: chuckiek
