Fórsa members in aviation have spoken out about the growing problem of disruptive passenger behaviour, warning that incidents are becoming more frequent and more serious.  

Fórsa Cabin Crew branch representatives Sinéad Whiston and Angel Garcia were among those who shared their experiences in The Irish Times last weekend, describing in-flight incidents involving physical and verbal abuse, intoxication, and sexual harassment. 

Sinéad described a flight spent “counting down the clock” until a persistently aggressive passenger could be removed, while Angel recounted being physically assaulted and subjected to degrading comments during another incident. “It’s getting completely out of hand,” he said. 

The number of serious air rage cases reported to Gardaí at Dublin Airport this year has already exceeded the 2024 total, with 32 incidents recorded in the first five months of 2025. Most involve intoxicated passengers, with Gardaí identifying alcohol, cocaine, and prescription drugs as frequent contributing factors. 

Cabin crew play a critical role as first responders during flights. They are charged with protecting the safety of all on board and are trained to de-escalate difficult situations. They also provide emergency medical assistance and are required to uphold aviation security and safety standards.  

They take on these safety responsibilities, in addition to the more familiar passenger-facing duties, all while under pressure and often in confined spaces at altitude. Fórsa continues to campaign for greater recognition of this essential safety role. 

Fórsa official Lisa Connell said the union is regularly contacted by members experiencing abuse and stress: “Airlines take these incidents seriously, but more must be done to prevent them,” she said. 

The union is an active supporter of the #NotOnMyFlight campaign, which aims to raise awareness and promote a zero-tolerance approach to unruly passenger behaviour which affects all Fórsa members working in airports and in airlines, and is calling on passengers to treat staff with dignity and respect. 

Members affected by such incidents are encouraged to contact cabincrew@forsa.ie. 

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