Flight Attendant Training to Elbow Aggressive Passengers Amid Rise in Unruly Behavior

[zuul]

Flight attendants train in self-defense amid spike in unruly passengers

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/flight-attendants-self-defense-training/index.html

snip . . .

Amid the return to air travel this year, the number of unruly and violent passengers is spiking. More than 100 incidents were reported to the Federal Aviation Administration in the last week -- for a total of more than 3,600 so far this year. Flight attendants are taught a set of de-escalation techniques to handle difficult passengers -- the ones who won't stow a tray table or who insist an oversize suitcase fit in the bin last time. But they say the defiance and violence that accompanies this return to travel is testing those skills.

"You get on a plane full of people and some of them are not very happy and you just never know what's going to happen," said Carrie, a flight attendant who took the class as she returns to work after a pandemic-related leave of absence. "It's just more imperative that we take care of ourselves and take care of our passengers because people are anxious, and they're upset, and they're frustrated, and sometimes that comes out inappropriately," she said. (Carrie asked CNN not publish her last name because she was not authorized by her airline to speak publicly.)

Instructors taught a range of skills, from a defensive stance to blows that can be delivered on a would-be hijacker desperate to commandeer the plane. One instructor used a mannequin to demonstrate a last-resort method of going at an attacker's eyes.

"You are going to possibly die. You need to defend yourself at all costs," he said. (CNN agreed to not identify the instructors because they are active-duty federal air marshals whose work on aircraft is done undercover.)

[hlthe2b]

1. Good for them. My worst experience was being seated between two arguing women..

The argument kept escalating, with me in between. I said NOTHING, not wanting to have the fight be directed toward me, just sort of a weak, "please!" I would presume they were domestic partners, but I don't know that for certain. Well, when the fight came to blows and drinks went flying, a fist went smack into my jaw and eye. So, for my "trouble," I earned a black eye to sport for an important conference.

The flight attendants were appalled, embarrassed, and angry. They moved me to first-class afterward and of course, some airline officials met the flight to offer the ubiquitous travel voucher and an official apology. Back then, I have my doubts if the women were arrested, despite my resultant assault. All I wanted to do is get the hell off that plane. If it happened today, I would undoubtedly insist on charges being brought.

Sigh... Once upon a time I actually enjoyed flying. Long, long ago.

[Wingus Dingus]

2. Is there a reason they can't be allowed to tase violent/out of control people?

I'm trying to think of an airplane related reason why they can't be trained to tase the worst offenders.

[hlthe2b]

3. Korean Air used one on 5 passengers during flights

It now carries at least one set of weapons on every plane, with two sets on its A380 jumbo jets.

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-38580804

They were criticized for doing so--more because they were perceived to have been poorly trained.

[Wingus Dingus]

4. It's not ideal, but it can be a last resort in a violence or hijack scenario.

[zuul]

6. I like your idea.

[LizBeth]

5. Outrageous that employees are learning to fight. I tell you, I do not want to go back to service

for exactly this reason.

[lagomorph777]

7. I'm done with flying: dangerous passengers, dangerous attendants, COVID, lost luggage...

It's just not worth it.

[DFW]

8. That's not an option open to everyone

For me to get back to the States, especially that most Ocean Liners are no longer running, it's either fly or row my own boat. Luckily, the last few times, most tourists are not allowed on transatlantic flights in either direction, but that won't be the case forever, and domestically, I see it's "open the asylum doors again."