How to Avoid In-Flight Altercations and Stay Calm Above the Clouds

Incidents of “air rage” remain a persistent issue, often highlighted by viral videos showing physical confrontations aboard planes. This year alone, there have been reports of a passenger spitting on another and a threat to crash an aircraft mid-flight. In response, some airlines like Ryanair have introduced penalties, imposing fines of £500 in the UK and €500 across Europe for passengers removed due to disruptive behavior.

The problem reached its peak during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic and, despite some decline, has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels. In 2021, as air travel resumed, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration recorded nearly six times more unruly passenger incidents than before, totaling 5,973 reports. Although figures have decreased since then, with 2,102 incidents reported in 2024, the issue remains significant.

Experts studying in-flight aggression attribute this surge to shifts in social norms that have evolved since the pandemic began. They also point to the financial pressures faced by the airline industry following substantial losses, which cascade down to passengers navigating crowded and stressful cabin environments.

Alison Vredenburgh, an industrial-organizational psychologist, describes the situation as a perfect storm, noting that the very design and conditions of air travel increase the likelihood of conflict. She emphasizes that airlines must acknowledge and address these systemic problems to improve passenger experience.

While comprehensive reform of the air travel system may still be years away, travelers can take proactive steps to avoid becoming entangled in these tense moments that often end up on social media.

Common triggers for passenger disputes are easy to spot: long waits at boarding gates, cramped seating in economy class, fierce competition for overhead bin space, and the overall lack of personal space. Ilene Zackowitz, a colleague of Vredenburgh and co-author of a 2016 study on airline passenger anger, identifies limited space as perhaps the most significant catalyst for in-flight tension.