The data help keep inventory levels leaner and turning faster. The article was written by Journal staff reporter Emily Nelson and appears on page B1. During 1997, the FAA reported a total of 196 incidents in which passengers interfered with flight crews. Airlines in the United States alone carried 600 million passengers last year. Another question is whether the airlines' concerted crackdown on passenger violence in the last two years has resulted in an increase in reported incidents.
Many airlines now encourage employees to report incidents.
Previously, airlines discouraged employees from reporting incidents for fear of offending customers. And the news media's interest may also contribute to making the problem appear more severe than it really is. There appears to be no good explanation for the alleged rise in air passenger misbehavior. Some say it is due to excessive on-board drinking. Others say incidents occur when passengers are denied alcohol.