New treaty seeks to crack down on unruly plane passengers

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A new global treaty seeks to combat unruly passenger behaviour by bolstering the power of states to prosecute poorly behaved passengers.

The Montreal Protocol 2014 (MP14), or Protocol to Amend the Convention on Offences and Certain Other Acts Committed on Board Aircraft aims to strengthen the powers of states to prosecute unruly passengers. It closes a legal gap under the Tokyo Convention 1963, whereby jurisdiction over offences committed on board international flights rests with the state where the aircraft is registered.

This causes issues when unruly passengers are delivered to the authorities upon landing in foreign territories.

Unruly and disruptive passenger incidents on board flights include physical assault, harassment, smoking or failing to follow crew instructions. These incidents may compromise flight safety, cause significant delays and operational disruption and adversely impact the travel experience and work environment for passengers and crew.

“Everybody on board is entitled to enjoy a journey free from abusive or other unacceptable behaviours,” Alexandre de Juniac, The International Air Transport Association (IATA)’s general director and CEO said.

“But the deterrent to unruly behaviour is weak. About 60 per cent of offences go unpunished because of jurisdictional issues. MP14 strengthens the deterrent to unruly behaviour by enabling prosecution in the state where the aircraft lands.

“The treaty is in force. But the job is not done. We encourage more states to ratify MP14 so that unruly passengers can be prosecuted according to uniform global guidelines.”

IATA is urging states to review the effectiveness of the enforcement mechanisms available to them in line with ICAO Guidance on Legal Aspects of Unruly and Disruptive Passengers (ICAO Document 10117) which gives information on how civil and administrative fines and penalties can be used to supplement criminal prosecutions.

In addition to strengthening jurisdiction and enforcement, airlines are working on a range of measures to help prevent incidents and manage them more effectively when they do happen. These include enhanced crew training and raising awareness with passengers of the potential consequences of unruly behaviour on board.

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iata MP14 unruly passengers