Flight attendants have opened up about the disturbing behavior they face from passengers and colleagues, including lewd propositions, drunken tirades, groping, and grubby conduct. The revelations come amid a surge in air rage incidents post-Covid, with 2021 seeing more reported cases in the US than the previous three decades combined.
Drunken Brits and Air Rage Incidents
Last week, a 30-year-old drunk British holidaymaker tried to kiss a male flight attendant on a plane, spent a week in Mallorca, and was arrested on his way back through Palma airport. In February, Jet2 banned two passengers for life after a mid-air brawl on a flight from Turkey to Manchester. British Airways had to cancel a flight from Barbados because crew members were too drunk from the hotel bar to operate it. Flight attendant Thomas, 27, noted: "Well, drunk Brits – you know how that goes."
Sexual Harassment and Assault
Unite, the union representing most cabin crew, found that 34% of female members had been sexually assaulted at work, 67% experienced unwanted flirting or sexual remarks, 65% had been subjected to sexually offensive jokes, 55% were inappropriately touched, and 40% had been shown pornographic images by managers, colleagues, or passengers. Clara, 26, who works for low-budget airlines, said: "Anglo-Saxons love to drink. As soon as Brits get to the airport, they start drinking. They drink like they’ve never drunk before."
Harassment in Uniform and Social Media
Employees report relentless harassment while commuting in uniform. Clara always wears a fleece over her uniform and changes into trainers to avoid attention. Social media has opened new avenues for intrusive behavior; Thomas knows a colleague who was tracked down on Instagram by a passenger who saw her name badge. Emma, who has worked for a full-service carrier for over a decade, said: "My job attracts sexual harassment... it’s very rare that anyone, especially female or female presenting, hasn’t been harassed."
Gender Dynamics and Authority
Thomas noted that passengers' attitudes toward crew change based on gender, with some refusing to accept female authority. "I’ve seen it several times that there were tensions during boarding, and strangely enough, as soon as I show up, things calm down," he said. Male crew members often use their physical presence to de-escalate situations.
Colleague Misconduct and Management Failures
Clara described a colleague who would grab women and say, "You’re going to be my future wife." Once, he mimed cunnilingus near the toilets. She did not file a complaint because managers often do nothing. Sergei, 27, a budget airline employee training to be a pilot, had to separate two crew members fighting mid-air: "They were biting and scratching, so I had to keep them at separate ends of the plane."
Vaping, Urine, and Other Flashpoints
Passengers frequently vape in toilets, setting off smoke alarms. Sergei decides whether to call police based on honesty; one man denied vaping despite setting off the alarm, and his girlfriend claimed the alarm was triggered by farting. Another passenger became so angry about a child needing the toilet that he made his son urinate in a bottle and threw it at crew members. Others have urinated on cabin doors.
Economic Pressures and Working Conditions
Some airlines have 25-minute turnaround targets, leaving no time for cleaning. Crew see dirty nappies, excrement on walls, and crisps everywhere. Thomas concluded: "When you’re really exposed to every part of the population, you see that there are some really good people, but there are also completely filthy slobs." The job takes a physical toll due to jet lag, early starts, and cabin pressurization. Clara said: "When you do four takeoffs and four landings in the same day, it’s exhausting. It’s not really something you could do for your whole life."
Commission on in-flight sales can lead to conflicts; Clara saw a cabin manager so focused on selling perfume that pilots had to perform a go-around, costing the airline thousands. The rise in air rage seems less surprising given these pressures. As Thomas noted, "When you spend eight to 12 hours shut inside a metal tube in the sky, it’s not like being in an office with a colleague you don’t like."
