The problem of individual passengers behaving in a way that disturbs other travellers and interferes with crew members in the performance of their duties is growing. There are serveral theories as to why the phenomenon is on the increase but there seems to be no single determining factor. The widespread ban on smoking, and the influence of alcohol must be considered. Flight duration is not an overriding factor, since a considerable number of cases of unruly passenger behaviour have been reported on short haul sectors, particularly in the USA and Europe. This treaty was devised to cover hijacking-type situations and in many countries the legislation regarding unruly passengers behaviour is limited to issues which imperil the safety of the aircraft.
Airlines have or are developing their own procedures for handling unruly behaviour in flight.
One important consideration is training crew members to collect evidence to meet legal requirements and to manage circumstances following an on board incident. However, this needs to be supported by adequate national legislation to allow law enforcement agencies at the destination to take appropriate action when called upon to do so, regardless of an aircraft's State of registry or of operator. It should not be necessary to draft a new international treaty to deal with the issue of unruly passengers. Rather, since the airlines require urgent action, it would be more effective intervention at an arrival airport by law enforcement representatives, and to do all that is possible to facilitate this.