From passengers peeing on fellow travellers on flight to a popular singer facing the risk of being thrown out of the flight, 2023 saw a plethora of controversies and disturbances in Airline sector.
In the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, the tourism industry witnessed a notable upswing in airline travel, with passengers primarily fixated on reaching their destinations. Yet, this surge in air travel also brought about an increase in unsettling incidents involving unruly passengers. According to reports from Fox News, a staggering 250 cases of disruptive flyers were brought to the attention of the FBI in the United States alone. As the year draws to a close, here is a list of some of the most viral airline mishaps that took place in 2023, capturing the attention of social media.
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One such incident involved Tiffany Gomas, colloquially referred to as the crazy plane lady, whose disruptive behaviour aboard an American Airlines flight went viral. Gomas, in a state of distress, asserted that a fellow passenger was not real and vehemently declared her intention to get off. This outburst led to her expulsion from the plane, causing considerable delays for other passengers. The episode was recorded by a fellow passenger and garnered millions of views. Gomas later attributed her emotional breakdown to an altercation in a podcast addressing the incident.
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In another noteworthy event from November, gospel singer Bobbi Storm faced potential removal from a Delta flight due to her refusal to stop singing. Despite repeated admonishments from a flight attendant, Storm persisted in singing her latest single, emphasising that she was doing so for the lord. A video clip from the incident captured Storm proudly sharing news of her Grammy nominations as she continued to perform.
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A startling occurrence unfolded on Alaska Airlines Flight 2059 in October when an off-duty pilot, Joseph Emerson, attempted to shut off the engines mid-air. The flight, en route to San Francisco, had to make an emergency diversion to Portland, Oregon, after Emerson deployed the fire extinguisher handles in his attempt to disable the engines. Emerson, aged 44, faced a staggering 167 charges, including 83 counts of attempted murder.
In another disturbing episode earlier in the year, a passenger on an American Airlines flight from New York to New Delhi urinated on a fellow traveller while inebriated. Following the incident, legal action was taken under a non-cognisable offense under the Civil Aircraft Rules, as confirmed by Devesh Kumar Mahela, the deputy commissioner of police (IGI Airport).
Further complicating matters, American Airlines found itself entangled in a federal lawsuit on September 2. A male flight attendant was accused of affixing a cell phone to a first-class bathroom seat to record a minor. The 14-year-old girl was directed to use the first-class facility for expediency, only to be asked to wait outside while the attendant purportedly washed his hands. This incident led to legal action against the airline by the aggrieved family.
