Drunken air rage hits a new high at Manchester Airport

Manchester Airport is flying high as one the UK's blackspots for drunken air passengers, according to new figures.

At least 30 people were held between March 2014 and March 2016 by police at Manchester Airport and cases include passengers trying to smash windows and banging on the cockpit door demanding more booze.

Manchester has the highest number of incidents in England outside the main London airports and shadow transport secretary Lilian Greenwood described the figures as extremely concerning''.

She said: Drunk passengers on flights can pose a real safety risk, and they can create an unpleasant or even intimidating environment for other passengers and air crew.

The new statistics suggest that more needs to be done to tackle the problem.''

Among the incidents at Manchester are;

• A group of passengers become rowdy'' on a plane and refuse to sit down. One man smashes a window with his fist. He cuts his hand and is calmed down by airline staff. The plane lands safely. (August 2015, Greater Manchester Police) - After drinking before and during a flight, a passenger walks off the plane when it lands and urinates onto one of its wheels. (July 2015, Greater Manchester Police) - Passenger gets drunk and becomesabusive and disruptive'' after consuming Bombay Sapphire gin bought at a duty-free shop. (July 2015, Greater Manchester Police) - Airline crew refuse to serve alcohol to passenger who appears to be drunk. The individual bangs on the door of the flight deck and is abusive to staff. (July 2015, Greater Manchester Police) - A known offender'' on an international flight drinks several miniature bottles of whisky and then starts to shout and swear before cabin crew prepare to restrain him. (May 2015, Greater Manchester Police) - Three men are refused permission to fly due to being drunk. After their alcohol is taken away one of the group headbutts someone. (August 2014, Greater Manchester Police)

A spokesman for the British Air Transport Association (BATA), the organisation representing UK airlines, said disruptive passengers can have a big impact''.

He added that this behaviour can involve to threats to passengers, crew and aircraft safety''.

Over the past few months the aviation industry has been working on how to tackle the issue, but no potential solutions have been announced.

Aviation minister Robert Goodwill said: Passengers who become disruptive on flights after drinking alcohol cause distress to other travellers, create knock-on delays to other flights, and in rare cases can even put flight safety at risk.

That is why we strongly support efforts to tackle the problem. Airports, airlines and the police are developing an industry-wide code of conduct and running information campaigns aimed at passengers.''

The Airport Operators Association issued a statement which said that while disruptive behaviour is unacceptable'', it only occurs ona very small minority of flights''.

PL

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