The survey clearly reflects the deep felt concerns of our members in respect of what is fast becoming an epidemic

Brendan Gold, TGWU

Manchester Airport is now starting to warn passengers that boarding an aircraft while drunk is an offence that could result in them being jailed or missing out on their holiday.

Some of the air stewards and stewardesses who contacted the BBC's new current affairs series "4 x 4" described their fear in the skies.

Fiona Weir was scarred for life by a drunken passenger who attacked her with a broken vodka bottle.

Alcohol blamed

"I don't feel, even as a passenger flying now, happy and confident when I see other people drinking around me," she said.

"I feel that unfortunately somebody will have to be killed if they really are going to change anything."

Another said she had been attacked by a drug addict who rammed the drinks tray into her stomach and legs, broke his chair then threatened the crew.

Almost half of the respondents said they received aggression from passengers on a regular basis and 80% blamed alcohol.

Other factors given were: excess cabin baggage, fear of flying, stress, inability to smoke, and arguments about reclining seats, cabin baggage and meals.

The survey found that the worst offenders were young men aged 22 to 40 years on flights to Ibiza, Orlando and Nice.

Zero tolerance

The International Transport Workers' Federation has already called for tougher legislation to crack down on air rage because airlines are ignoring the problem.

Brendan Gold of the TGWU, which helped produce the survey, said: "This is the just tip of the iceberg.

"The survey clearly reflects the deep felt concerns of our members in respect of what is fast becoming an epidemic."

Roger Wiltshire from the British Air Transport Association, which represents all UK airlines, said: "The airlines take this issue very seriously and a lot of progress has been made in controlling such incidents.

"This is an area of behaviour which must be treated with zero tolerance and we have supported calls for increased powers of arrest for the police. But the vast majority of flights are completed without incident."