The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has issued an urgent call to all its member states to accelerate the ratification of the 2014 Protocol to Amend the Convention on Offences and Certain Other Acts Committed on Board Aircraft (MP14).
This follows increased reports of unruly passenger behaviour on international flights.
The amendment would allow countries to have jurisdiction over offences committed on board arriving aircraft that are registered in other nations.
Currently, without the amendment, unruly passenger behaviour on board international flights falls under the jurisdiction of the aircraft’s home states, preventing local authorities from being able to prosecute inbound passengers for bad behaviour.
Although the amendment is applicable in 47 of ICAO’s member states, it is urging its remaining members to ratify MP14 to ensure there is recourse for unruly passengers.
