- Title: Korean Air to get tough on unruly passengers and ease stun gun rules
- Date: 27th December 2016
- Summary: INCHEON, SOUTH KOREA (DECEMBER 27, 2016) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** EXTERIOR OF KOREAN AIR TRAINING CENTRE LOGO READING (English): "KOREAN AIR TRAINING CENTRE" SOUTH KOREAN NATIONAL FLAG (RIGHT) AND FLAG OF KOREAN AIR (RIGHT) FLYING BRIEFING IN PROGRESS OFFICIALS OF KOREAN AIR SEATED IN BRIEFING ROOM MEDIA SITTING (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) PRESIDENT OF KOREAN AIR, CHI CHANG-HOON, SAYING: "We will improve our conditions and procedures on using taser guns as well as ropes, which you might find look too complicated to use, and even shackles if needed, to cope with violent passengers in a fast and efficient manner." JOURNALISTS SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) PRESIDENT OF KOREAN AIR, CHI CHANG-HOON, SAYING: "While U.S. carriers have taken stern action on violent on-board behaviour following the terrorist attacks of September 11 (2001), Asian carriers including us have not imposed tough standards because of Asian culture." TRAINING SESSION FOR FLIGHT SECURITY IN PROGRESS TRAINING INSTRUCTOR EXPLAINING TAKING UP TASER GUN TASER GUN IN INSTRUCTOR'S HAND VARIOUS OF FLIGHT ATTENDANTS OF KOREAN AIR AIMING TASER GUN VARIOUS OF FLIGHT ATTENDANTS PUTTING TASER GUN TO TARGET ONE FLIGHT ATTENDANT AIMING TASER GUN AT MOCK ATTACKER / OTHER FLIGHT ATTENDANTS SEIZING MOCK ATTACKER'S ARMS AND WRESTLING HIM TO THE GROUND FLIGHT ATTENDANTS SEIZING MOCK ATTACKER'S ARMS AS ANOTHER ATTENDANT BINDS HIS HANDS BEHIND HIS BACK FLIGHT ATTENDANT BINDING MOCK ATTACKER'S HANDS MOCK ATTACKER BEING TAKEN TO HIS SEAT FLIGHT ATTENDANTS TYING MOCK ATTACKER TO HIS SEAT USING ROPE FLIGHT ATTENDANT BINDING MOCK ATTACKER'S ANKLES FLIGHT ATTENDANT HOLDING MOCK ATTACKER IN SEAT
- Embargoed: 11th January 2017 06:24
- Keywords: Korean Air stun gun violent passenger Richard Marx flight safety flight airplane plane security
- Location: INCHEON, SOUTH KOREA
- City: INCHEON, SOUTH KOREA
- Country: South Korea
- Topics: Air Accidents,Disaster/Accidents
- Reuters ID: LVA0015ENRXAD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Korean Air Lines said it will allow crew members to use stun guns in a "fast and efficient manner" to manage in-flight disturbances, after coming in for criticism from U.S. singer Richard Marx for its handling of an incident involving a violent passenger.
Korean Air Lines said on Tuesday (December 27) that its crew members are currently "hesitant" to use taser guns, because they are only permitted to use them in "grave" situations which jeopardize the life of a passenger or crew member, or the safety of a flight.
"While U.S. carriers have taken stern action on violent on-board behaviour following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 (2001), Asian carriers including us have not imposed tough standards because of Asian culture," Korean Air President Chi Chang-hoon told a news conference.
The new crew guidelines, announced on Tuesday following an incident on Dec. 20, will also include more staff training, use of the latest device to tie up a violent passenger, and the banning of passengers with a history of unruly behavior.
Men account for about one-tenth of Korean Air flight attendants, and the carrier said it will try to have at least one male on duty in the cabin for each flight.
In South Korea, the number of unlawful acts committed aboard airplanes has more than tripled over the past five years, according to government data.
South Korean police on Tuesday sought an arrest warrant for the passenger involved in the latest incident, identified by his surname Lim, on charges including inflicting injury to the crew and a passenger on the Vietnam to South Korea flight.
An airline spokesman said the man had consumed two and a half shots of whiskey during the flight.
The incident came to light when Marx said on Facebook and Twitter that he helped subdue "a psycho passenger attacking crew members and other passengers," accusing crew members of being "ill-trained" and "ill-equipped" to handle the "chaotic and dangerous event."
Marx's wife, Daisy Fuentes, who was with the singer during the flight from Vietnam to South Korea, said on Instagram that crew members "didn't know how to use the taser & they didn't know how to secure the rope around him (he got loose from their rope restraints 3 times)."
Lim, in his early 30s, appeared on Monday (December 26) for questioning by police, wearing a mask, thick-rimmed glasses and a hat. He apologised for his behavior but said he could not remember what had happened, according to video shown by broadcaster SBS. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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