PENALTY FOR UNRULY PASSENGERS

An unruly passenger is defined as someone whose behavior violates the proper order and the discipline inside an aircraft or endangers the aircraft or the lives and properties of other people inside the aircraft. The legal definition of an unruly passenger can be viewed in Administrative Regulation no. 31/2003 which has been revised by Administrative Regulation no. 16/2022.

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In accordance with Administrative Regulation no. 31/2003 which has been revised by Administrative Regulation no. 16/2022, the types of behavior prohibited inside an aircraft include:

• Smoking inside toilets or other places that prohibit such behavior;

• Using electronic devices that are prohibited;

• Disobeying the proper and fair instructions intended to protect the safety of the aircraft or the people and their properties, or intended to maintain the order and the discipline inside the aircraft, given by the pilot or the crew making the instructions under the name of the pilot;

• Destroying or preventing the operation of any smoke detectors or other protection devices installed inside the aircraft;

• Release any untrue information that can affect the safety of the aircraft.

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In accordance with Administrative Regulation no. 31/2003 which has been revised by Administrative Regulation no. 16/2022, depending on the seriousness of the behaviour, an unruly passenger may be penalized with a fine of MOP5, 000.00 to MOP50,000.00. If the case should be transferred to the police for handling and filed with the court for inquest, the court will undergo arbitration in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations.

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