An unruly or disruptive aircraft passenger is a passenger on a commercial aircraft whose behavior poses risk to the safety and security of crew and other passengers. With a lack of access to law enforcement while flying, flight attendants (and sometimes passengers) are charged with the responsibility to handle such passengers.[1]
Generally, such passengers are not at risk of committing terrorist acts, but since the September 11 attacks, such incidents have been taken more seriously due to increased awareness of terrorism.[2]
In the United States, several hundred and sometimes more than one thousand such incidents are reported on commercial airlines each year.[1][2][3]