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The number of incidents at Scottish airports involving drunk passengers have almost tripled in the last six years according to shock new figures. In 2024 police attended 337 call outs at Scotland's four major airports where alcohol was a "primary cause" in passenger misbehaviour. That compares to 308 call outs in 2023, 185 in 2022, and 121 in 2019. Overall the number of " disruptive airline passenger r" incidents recorded by police were 755 last year, compared to 604 in 2023, 471 in 2022 and 438 in 2019. There has also been a fivefold increase in police being called to passengers incidents aboard flights in the last six years with 104 in 2024, 57 in 2023, 80 in 2022 and 20 in 2019. Most of the aircraft call-outs tend to happen between May and September according to the figures, obtained from Police Scotland under Freedom of Information. Yesterday there was calls for stricter rules on alcohol sales at airports. Laura Mahon, deputy chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland said, “Concerns are regularly raised – including by airlines - about disruption to travel as well as passenger safety, due to people drinking to excess in airports, and continuing to drink once on-board. " Airports and aircraft are currently exempt from licensing legislation, which is designed to control how, where and when alcohol is sold. "Airline staff should be able to work and passengers able to travel in safe environments without fear of alcohol related abuse or crime. "At the very least we should be bringing airside alcohol sales into the licensing system to prevent alcohol-related harm, making travel safer and more enjoyable for everyone." Andrew Misell UK Director for Alcohol Change added:"A lot of us, especially if we’re travelling for leisure, arriving at the airport can feel like permission to drink. "There’s a sense that normal rules don’t apply once we’re in the departure lounge. "These figures from Police Scotland suggest it’s time we brought airports fully within the licensing system, just like any other premises that sell alcohol in the UK.” The airport with most disruptive passenger incidents on a flight last year was Edinburgh with 65 (up from 33 in 2023) followed by Glasgow with 28 ( up from 18) and Aberdeen with seven (up from one) and Glasgow Prestwick with four (down from five). In the first eight months of this year there were 69 passenger incidents on aircraft - 39 in Edinburgh, 14 in Glasgow, nine in Aberdeen and seven in Prestwick A spokesperson for AGS Airports, who run Glasgow and Aberdeen airports, said: “Instances of disruptive behaviour are extremely rare; however, one incident is one too many and no employee or passenger should ever have to experience it. “When it does occur, the impact can have serious consequences for fellow passengers, employees working in the air or at the airport, as well as for the disruptive passengers themselves who will be held to account. "Penalties range from being denied boarding, to being banned from an airline to potential jail time for the most serious incidents. “We have a zero-tolerance approach to any kind of abusive or disruptive behaviour." A spokesman for Edinburgh Airport added: "The reported incidents represent just 0.0004% of the 15.8 million passengers who travelled through Edinburgh Airport in 2024, and 0.001% of the 26.7 million passengers across Scotland’s four main airports during the same period. "We work closely with Police Scotland and our Edinburgh Airport campus partners to maintain a safe and secure environment for all. "These exceptionally low figures are a testament to the effectiveness of that collaboration." Anna Bowles, Head of Consumer at the UK Civil Aviation Authority said: “Passengers who are rude or aggressive can be highly disruptive and distressing for cabin crew and fellow travellers. "Such behaviour is completely unacceptable and can pose a risk to passenger and aircraft safety. "Disruptive passengers can lead to planes being diverted and, where this happens, the disruptive passengers themselves risk having to pay the cost of the diversion. "They can also face criminal charges with severe penalties or even prison sentences." Detective Superintendent Derek Callan of Police Scotland added: "While any rise in anti-social behaviour at airports or on aircraft is a concern, the vast majority of passengers travel responsibly. "Officers will take appropriate action against anyone whose actions cause alarm or distress. "The number of flights and routes operating to and from Scotland has increased in recent years, and we continue to work closely with airport operators, airlines, Border Force and other partners through joint initiatives and awareness campaigns to ensure the safety and wellbeing of passengers, crew members and staff. "We would urge people to drink responsibly and to be respectful towards others when travelling." In August the Daily Record revealed how crime and disorder at Scotland's airports has rocketed with a 41 per cent increase between 2022 and 2024. Police attended 5598 incidents last year at 16 - including Glasgow and Edinburgh - compared with 3989 in 2022. While 1273 weapons including knives, shotgun cartridges and bullets were "surrendered" by passengers at the two biggest airports compared to 894 in 2022. At the time Dr Stephen Wood, a leading expert on aviation terrorism and its impact on passengers, said the rise in offences was in part down to the availability of alcohol. He added: "An airport is the only place where you can find people having quite a lot of drink in the morning." Two years ago an oil and gas worker was caught on camera abusing female airport staff in a foul-mouthed rant. The man was blocked from boarding a flight at Edinburgh Airport after his gate closed. He was filmed swearing at staff members and took photos of women behind the check-in desk before launching into a tirade. He also boasted about how much he earned - £1500 a day Police Scotland said the man was issued with a warning following the incident. Last December a drunk man was hauled off an easyJet flight from Morocco to Glasgow by cops after the pilot was forced to divert the plane to Faro in Portugal. His fellow passengers said he was abusive towards flight attendants and also spitting The previous month a passenger whose drunken abuse caused a Glasgow to Turkey flight to be diverted to Newcastle was jailed for eight months. James Rae from Falkirk wreaked havoc on the flight to to Antalya when he insulted staff and passengers. The 28 year old was arrested as soon as the plane landed and he had to be carried away because he was so drunk. In May this year a female Ryanair passenger was arrested after her flight to Prestwick Airport from Tenerife was diverted to Faro. The woman, who Portuguese police claim was drunk, was escorted off the aircraft by officers. She was then alleged to have kicked and head-butted the doors and windows of as bus before being taken to hospital for treatment. Passengers were said to have cheered when she was taken off the plane by police
