Dutch aviation joins forces against disturbances on board aircraft
The problem of passengers disrupting peace during flights is a growing concern. These situations not only endanger safety, but also cause inconvenience to other passengers and can lead to flight delays and diversions. To tackle this, the government and the aviation sector have decided to join forces. An agreement was signed on Thursday to confirm these joint efforts.
Collaboration between the government and the aviation sector to address these challenges is already underway, and there are plans to expand this further. Since May, flight crews have been able to easily report misconduct by passengers via a digital form. It is crucial that everyone working in aviation is aware of the procedures in place to deal with such behaviour.
The Netherlands is the third European country to sign such an agreement, after Norway and Ireland. This problem is also receiving more attention internationally, with the involvement of European and international aviation organizations such as EASA and IATA.
Disruptive passengers pose a major challenge for airline and airport staff worldwide. Airline crew often have to deal with these situations independently. The government and the sector are investigating how staff can be better trained to handle such incidents.
Airlines keep lists of passengers who misbehave. A more effective approach could be if this information could be shared between Dutch companies, also taking into account the privacy of passengers.
“Flying is a safe way to travel, and it is unacceptable that there are people who endanger this by misbehaving,” said Minister Mark Harbers. “It is becoming an increasing problem, and it is essential that we work together as stakeholders to reduce these incidents.”
The declaration of intent has been signed by parties such as Royal Schiphol Group NV, Transavia, KLM, TUI, Corendon Dutch Airlines, the Public Prosecution Service, and the Royal Military Police.
Source: Central government
Has any of the readers ever had an unpleasant experience with other passengers on a flight to or from Thailand? If so, respond.
About this blogger
-
Known as Khun Peter (62), lives alternately in Apeldoorn and Pattaya. In a relationship with Kanchana for 14 years. Not yet retired, have my own company, something with insurance. Crazy about animals, especially dogs and music.
Enough hobbies, but unfortunately little time: writing for Thailandblog, fitness, health and nutrition, shooting sports, chatting with friends and some other oddities.
Read the latest articles here
EconomyJanuary 15 2025Thailand to reach highest investment level in a decade in 2024
ResearchJanuary 15 2025Research shows: Dutch people prefer to save on health than on vacation
News from ThailandJanuary 15 2025Thailand makes visa program more attractive for international experts
News from ThailandJanuary 15 2025China bans import of durian from Thailand over banned chemicals
No, I have never experienced anything “serious” and hopefully it stays that way.
Of course there are always parasites who cannot turn off their "electronics" during take-off or landing (much to the annoyance of the calm flight attendants) (as if their lives depend on it, incomprehensible).
What was experienced, and anything but fun, was the refusal to allow two passengers to board in Zaventem because they were allegedly criminally drunk.
In itself a wise decision by the crew, but because of this we lost two hours (delay) because the luggage of both people had to be removed from the hull. So I think such clowns can also be put on the “blacklisted” list.
Philip,
And you will be unlucky if you miss your connecting flight due to that delay. Wondering who you can tell this to?
Last year I booked a BRU-BKK flight with my wife and for the first time with EVA AIR.
For the first part we had to fly to VIENNA with Brussels Airlines, then change to EVA to BKK.
In Vienna, at check-in, we noticed a group of noisy men of about 30 years old. There were about ten of them. When boarding we were asked to put on our mouth masks. Who didn't do that? Correct !
Should it succeed or fail sooner: in the kite we are in the middle of that bunch of Poles. Never before experienced: shouting, ranting, roaring laughter and… drinking your own alcohol! Those Taiwanese flight attendants look like chickens. At some point, some of them start to molest an Asian girl. Another Asian woman took the initiative to ask the head stewardess to change her seat. Whatever was arranged…
It was too much for us too. Some of those Polish pigs start ostentatiously watching porn on their mobile phones with a lot of noise. When they then also start passing shots of vodka literally in front of us, the cup was full. My wife demands from the stewardess that we be given new seats 'if necessary in business' she says. Of course that was not possible! When we threatened to lie down far away from that scum on the aisle if necessary, we were given another seat, but not next to each other, but that didn't matter to us.
A few days after arrival I sent EVA an email about our adventures and yes: I got an email back with apologies. I was also told that in Vienna one of those Poles was not allowed to fly because he was 'too drunk'.
This was our first but also our last flight with EVA, not to mention the problems with the return flight, but those were of a completely different nature.
In my opinion, they should simply exclude from flights, etc. these people who cannot behave on an airplane or elsewhere, which also causes harm or suffering to fellow human beings.
It is often a few idiots who think it necessary to take an entire majority hostage for their absurd behavior.
The same, although this is a bit off topic, you see with Idiots in a stadium, who think football is war.
With such behavior you indicate that you understand nothing about sports and that you have lost nothing in a stadium.
Just like with airline tickets, these people should never be allowed to obtain a ticket again.
A long time ago with Royal Jordanie. Flight New York Amsterdam Amman BKK.
Man alone, disturbed in my opinion, very restless. In front of us were an older man and a young boy who turned out to be on the wrong flight.
During a stopover in Amman, the restless man became increasingly aggressive. Both men who had sat in front of us called them child molesters and wanted to get into a fist fight with the young man. I jumped in because the young man had to arrange another flight and avoid getting into trouble.
Security personnel pointed out the aggressive man.
On the plane he threatened my husband: have you ever had a knife in your back? Then he started swearing at a steward.
Fortunately, he was then taken away by 2 very large men and we were able to continue the journey in peace, what a relief!
When asked about a (less pleasant) experience during a flight, here is our contribution.
It must have been about 10 years ago that my wife, son (then about 15 years old) and I flew from Amsterdam to Singapore in December with the SQ 323, known to insiders.
At the time, the better seats were not yet for sale, but whoever booked first, we had already booked in March, had a chance of getting a good seat.
We were 'lucky'. We were seated right at the shot. After about 2 hours in the air, my wife wanted to carefully put her chair in the rest position.
However, this was blocked by a young man, who later turned out to be a Belgian of approximately 20/25 years old.
He put his knee against the back of her chair, preventing the chair from being moved back.
To my friendly request not to do this, the response was aggressive, saying, "I don't have a seat, you don't belong here, just sit somewhere else." FYI, he himself had placed his chair in the rest position.
When I took my seat again, my seat was also blocked by the person sitting next to him. This turned out to be his friend.
A tense atmosphere arose because even if we did not have the chair in the rest position, the chair was kicked.
Because friendly requests to stop this made no sense, I eventually asked the flight attendant for help. This didn't really help because what can these fragile ladies do against these burly, rude men?
Because the situation escalated, at one point my chair was kicked so hard that I was thrown out of my chair and landed against the bulkhead, the purser was called in. She surveyed the situation. It was clear, the people in question were very loud and threatened us. They would wait for us in Singapore when we landed. It soon became clear that the purser could do nothing. However, she did request police assistance before landing. Upon arrival in Singapore there were indeed police. However, the two Belgians soon left the aircraft. When the police asked us if we wanted to report it, our answer was of course yes, but... our connecting flight was already in 1,5 hours. So unfortunately that wasn't possible.
Back in the Netherlands, I reported this incident to Singapore Airlines. I quickly received a response. The incident was well known. People apologized. We received a large bunch of flowers. It was also indicated that the two Belgians had been placed on the blacklist. They were no longer allowed to fly with Singapore Airlines.
I am writing this about ten years after it happened and it still concerns me, my wife and son. I hope that the measure taken will contribute to flights without inconvenience from other passengers who do show up.
We flew very nicely many times in the past between 1999 and 2008 towards Thailand, but there were also several times when it was less so. It was the time of vacation the first times and I still had a year when I flew to Bangkok four times. I then decided to bring them to the Netherlands, my current wife. Took a one-way ticket at the end of 2008, went to the 'promised land' twice. In 20014 I visited BV.nl again and am now very keen to celebrate with a tenth anniversary next year. Then fly after ten years to see the homeland. Well-known friends and family have now thinned out a bit, one is no longer necessary, the other is gone and family all live abroad, Belgium, although the Flemish part, but people have wanted to call it abroad for a while now. With older words, that urge to see your birth city/country again comes to the fore again. Some small examples of irritation and disturbing situations when moving people by plane.
The first flight was neat, I thought or was pretty sure EVA-air, neatly somewhere in the middle right behind the wing, same story
Holiday international laan van meerdervoort 348 2563 BA 'S-Gravenhage Holland. Booked many times to satisfaction, no idea if they still exist. 2003 in particular was a disastrous year with fellow passengers. I had a mother and son right in front of me, which is more likely to happen, but this family were both quite stout, so to speak, they actually needed three chairs for the two of them, but they didn't do that in those days. What was worse, the chairs immediately went into sleep mode above Eindhoven and the youngest of the bunch immediately threw a handful of sleeping pills into his collar and played suspended animation within five minutes. I now knew that there was also a single man from Amsterdam sitting next to me. After asking politely three times and the mother's answer was 'yes, he likes to sleep while flying', the Amsterdammer took a slightly more rude approach and hit him on the head with the flat of his hand. The sleeping beauty remained apparently dead, the Amsterdammer was pissed and started to make it clear in plain Amsterdam that we would soon be back at Schiphol if there was no change. Airline crew arrived with a lot of persuasion, the beautiful sleeper suddenly woke up and the seat moved forward slightly, say a quarter back. Sorry, the space was too small, so the Amsterdammer gave some 'technical' advice regarding the seat spacing ratio and what could sit in between. The sleeping beauty was not happy. After consultation with the airline staff, the Amsterdam resident was given an upgrade, i.e. another seat ten meters further away. Too bad or perhaps also fortunate, a lot of advice had already been given in that short time together. The beautiful sleeper went into suspended animation again, mother remained remarkably attentive and I had two chairs, which are not of much use, but they are comfortable. I also had a BMI of -24 at the time, something that was described as poor, but which people regularly view differently.
A year or so later, the woman was already living in the Netherlands. Flight was not completely full, the two of us sat in a row of three. Four or five rows behind the kitchen. Two young women apparently single, or without a partner, but both with children. Cots on the kitchen wall. Couldn't keep the children quiet, do you think it's strange, you're just used to Planet Earth on a Blue Monday, they drag you into some kind of device, which makes a crazy noise and gives you a very annoying pain in your ears. Not to mention the lack of liquid food. A flying device whatever it may be.
One of the two ladies gets all over her boiling water when one of the gentlemen sitting next to the emergency exit asks if it will remain that way throughout the journey. Swearing, cursing, getting to your feet and just physically threatening that man, no 'truus' did not come from a terraced house and certainly did not work in an office. Children were quiet, by the way, but yes, if 'mothers' are on a collision course, that is of little use. Once again de-escalation by the flight crew, some fellow passengers were now heavily influenced by the gentlemen, ladies and were able to keep the future of planet earth quiet in a small number of short moments. Not entirely without the almost personal help of one of the ladies from the kitchen with the future of planet earth.
Man man, what a job, is that twice the average or something?
Another one,
Transfer in mind, Copenhagen to Thailand. Clear boarding passes at Schiphol, reminding the man and woman with child that my wife and I had that seat number. It was made clear to me that their designated seat numbers on the boarding pass were not what they wanted. The child was included in the conversation as a shield [take a moment with little Jaap, Jaap, I'll look for the bottle] staff were there, it was only an hour, don't complain sir, yes I thought too, no, it was meant for us.
It's actually not too bad about a flight or fourteen times two, of course we also had to go back in those years, there was only a one-way ticket.
The one-way ticket, by the way, together with my dear wife AMS BKK after many questions whether BKK was really the final destination for the simple reason that my final destination was about an eight-hour drive from Chiang Mai due to some unrest in BKK in those days. No, that was not a point, it turned out well [China air], the first announcements that BKK had become 'insecure' were still hanging over Europe. Somewhere above India, Chiang Mai was really the final destination. These were good days for the taxi company in the entire region and of course the hotel industry. Fop boxes China Air no compensation, delivered in the country was sufficient 'force majeure' From memory nine thousand Baht, two drivers non-stop. We were allowed to take a nap in the backseat on my tin ass. And whether it was really a taxi, I have no idea.
Atlas van Puffelen