MOSCOW, December 18 (RIA Novosti) – A Russian federal lawmaker said Wednesday that a bill to blacklist passengers who behave violently on airplanes is a “priority” following the recent beating of a flight attendant by a former high-ranking official.
A series of in-flight incidents has prompted lawmakers this year to call for tougher punishments for unruly passengers. The ruling United Russia party has introduced a bill allowing airlines to put potential troublemakers on a blacklist and deny them their services.
“I think that once the government voices its approval, we should consider this bill as a matter of priority,” said Ilya Kostunov, who represents United Russia in the State Duma, the lower house of parliament.
He mentioned the most recent incident, in which a drunk former deputy governor traveling in economy class beat up a flight attendant who prohibited him from using a business-class toilet. The pilot decided to make an emergency landing.
“I think that punishments for violent behavior aboard aircraft need to be toughened,” Kostunov said. “Every year, Russian airlines have to deal with thousands of rowdy drunks who are a direct threat to flight security. Fines for violent behavior are extremely low and do not exceed 5,000 rubles ($150).”
He said that airlines should also be allowed to demand that a would-be passenger who already has a record of violent behavior make a pre-payment that roughly equals the cost of an emergency landing in case he disrupts the flight.
Kostunov suggested introducing similar restrictions for passengers traveling by train, ship or bus.
After a spate of drunken brawls aboard planes earlier this year, lawmakers and airlines came forward with a number of initiatives to deal with violent behavior by passengers. But none of the bills submitted to the parliament has been passed so far.
Vitaly Yefimov, a senior member of the State Duma, said earlier this year that duty-free liquor, which Russians often consume during flights, should be banned from being brought on board.
In October, police at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport detained a man who started a brawl on a plane bound for Egypt and threatened to kill a security official.
In September, police at Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport detained a drunk Russian woman on a plane bound for the Turkish city of Antalya after she behaved violently and insulted flight attendants.
Also in September, a Russian woman tried to open an emergency exit in mid-air while on a Cathay Pacific flight from Moscow to Hong Kong. She was arrested upon arrival.
In February, a Russian aircraft bound for Thailand was forced to land in Uzbekistan when a 29-year-old drunk man attacked passengers. The attacker was held by the Uzbek police shortly after the landing.
In January, 54-year-old Russian businessman Sergei Kabalov achieved Internet notoriety after a YouTube video showed him punching a male passenger in the nose and striking a flight attendant on a flight bound for Egypt.
Kabalov also tried to break into the cockpit and threatened to “kill anyone with two fingers.”
