US airlines are attempting to crack down on air rage incidents, but experts remain uncertain about the root causes of the rise in problematic behaviour. Recent high-profile cases include a passenger who stowed away on a Delta flight to Paris and a woman who claimed a fellow traveller was 'not real' during an altercation on an American Airlines flight.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recorded 1,900 reports of unruly passengers in 2023, following a 492% spike in 2021. Psychologists attribute the increase to worsening cabin conditions, normalised aggression towards service workers, and political differences. A survey found that 57% of flight attendants have been assaulted or harassed by a passenger in the past year.
Aly Vredenburgh, a business consultant cited in a University of Wisconsin report, describes cramped quarters, noise, bad smells, lack of personal space, and hunger as creating 'a perfect storm of triggered people', similar to road rage. Airline industry expert Robert Mann adds that the democratisation of air travel means people behave on planes as they do in public.
Mann also points to the boarding process as a stressor, where airlines segment passengers by fare rather than need, leading to conflicts. American Airlines has introduced technology to prevent passengers hovering around the gate—so-called 'gate lice'—from boarding out of turn.
Another trigger is the increasing size of wheelie bags and the pressure to carry luggage on board to avoid checking fees. This has lengthened queues and led to a 'game' of maximising carry-on luggage, contributing to frustration and aggressive behaviour.
