THE Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is calling for more prosecutions to crack down on violent and drunken airline passengers.

The plea follows last week’s revelation that it had already received more than 200 incident reports about disruptive passengers from UK airlines in 2018 - before the busy summer flying season had even begun.

The latest figures mirror previous years, which have seen over 400 incidents reported for each full year, many involving acts of violent and intimidating behaviour.

Although the clear majority of passengers enjoy the experience of trouble-free flying, the CAA is calling on airlines and enforcement agencies to make better use of laws already in place. It has pledged to work closely with the industry and government to bring prosecutions against disruptive passengers.

Richard Stephenson, director of the UK CAA, said: “Everyone wants their holiday flights to be enjoyable and trouble-free. Drunken and abusive behaviour on an aeroplane is totally unacceptable. Not only does it upset everyone else, but it can also jeopardise flight safety. Criminal charges should be brought against offenders more often to act as a deterrent - passengers need to know they will face the full weight of the law should they be found guilty of disorderly behaviour.”

Offenders can be jailed for up to five years for endangering the safety of an aircraft. They can also be charged with specific offences of being drunk on board an aircraft and for acting in a disruptive manner. Smoking and failing to obey the commands of the captain are also against the law and can be punished by a fine or imprisonment.