Airlines have called on governments to take tougher action against unruly passengers on commercial flights.
They want all governments to sign up to proposed amendments to the Tokyo Convention, which would give airlines greater powers to more effectively deal with violent and disruptive passengers.
It would enable them to take action against passengers who threaten violence, as well as those who actually commit a violent act, and those who refuse to follow safety instructions.
Airlines would also be able to recover any costs incurred as a result of a passenger’s disruptive behaviour.
Members of the International Air Transport Association agreed at a conference to the changes to the Tokyo Convention, which provides the legal framework for dealing with unruly passengers.
"This agreement is good news for everybody who flies – passengers and crew alike," said IATA director general Tony Tyler.
"The changes, along with the measures already being taken by airlines, will provide an effective deterrent for unacceptable behaviour on board aircraft.
"But governments must now follow up on the success of the diplomatic conference and ratify the new protocol."
About 300 incidents of unruly behavior are reported every week.
"We urge governments to move quickly," Tyler added.
The changes, agreed at the conference attended by officials from about 100 governments, will come into force once 22 countries ratify the protocol to the Tokyo Convention.
It would then mean that authorities not only in the country in which the aircraft was registered but also in a flight’s destination country to take legal action against disruptive passengers.
It closes a loophole the IATA said had allowed many serious offences to go unpunished.
Among the agreed changes, the protocol more clearly defines unruly behaviour – to include both the threat of or actual physical assault, or the refusal to follow safety instructions – and helps recover costs associated with the misbehaviour.
"Unruly passengers are a very small minority," Tyler said.
"But unacceptable behaviour on board an aircraft can have serious consequences for the safety of all on board. The goal is to effectively deter such behaviour and ensure safe flights for all by making the consequences of such behaviour clear and enforceable."
