Number of 'angry air rage outbursts' skyrockets as flying gets worse: report

Air rage incidents have become so common that Wikipedia has an entire entry devoted to the subject, with links to 35 air rage-related articles.

Air rage was a problem during the 1990s and 2000 but, according to a report published by The Messenger Monday, it has become even more common in recent years. The Federal Aviation Administration "counts 1900 reports of unruly passengers in 2023 — and counting,” The Messenger reported.

"While it might be tempting to view the subjects of viral air rage videos with a sense of schadenfreude, psychologists say that, in certain cases, the anger they feel is valid, even if they're not expressing it healthily,” the report states.

“Although relatively few people will react to stress in such an explosive manner, most fliers can relate on some level to the powerlessness unruly passengers feel when they act out…. Angry outbursts are especially common on planes, partly due to the nature of flying itself."

The report adds, "Unlike most settings, there's no easy way in or out of an airplane cabin. Our typical 'fight or flight' response is amplified, transforming even mild irritants into what might feel like earth-shattering headaches."

The "increased prevalence of in-flight meltdowns," the report notes, "likely reflects a decline in the quality of services." And the COVID-19 pandemic aggravated the air rage problem.

"Angry airline outbursts skyrocketed during the pandemic, with the FAA noting a 492 percent spike in 2021," according to the report. "There were more air rage incidents that year than in the three decades before COVID combined, according to one recent analysis. Masks, in particular, polarized passengers, serving as symbols of their political affiliations.… Incidents involving unruly passengers waned in 2022 and again this year, but they remain well above pre-pandemic levels."