On Thursday night, over 2,000 enraged passengers started a riot at an airport in Henan province. They had been left marooned after flights were delayed and/or cancelled due to heavy snowfall. The angry mob stormed check-in counters, smashed electronic equipment and assaulted staff.
Around 4.30pm, heavy snowfall broke out in Zhengzhou, forcing the airport to close down and approximately 100 flights to be delayed. Chaos and violence quickly followed and lasted until around 10pm, when the airport reopened.
The aftermath of the violent rampage is clearly seen in photos posted on social media. They show passengers climbing over check-in counters, hurling furniture around, people sitting on top of X-ray machines, pictures torn off the walls, debris scattered everywhere, with police desperately trying to calm the rioters and take control the situation.
According to the Henan Business Daily, one furious woman gained access to the airport’s control room where she reportedly beat staff and sprayed an employee with a beverage.
China's commercial airline industry has been growing at a staggering pace, going from 80 airports in 2011 to an anticipated 230 at the end of this year. It is expected to soon be the world’s largest aviation market, but this speedy growth is coupled with frequent delays as the industry tries to cope with the ever growing demand for flights. In 2012, Chinese planes were delayed over 25 percent of the time, with Beijing Airport holding the dubious title of most delayed airport in the world.
Delays have become a source of increasingly violent episodes of 'air rage'. Last summer, there were over two dozen fights at airports.
These violent episodes have prompted airlines to undertake drastic measures. Hong Kong Airlines now requires its staff to undergo six hours of training in the martial art of Wing Chun, hoping that it will deter angry travellers from resorting to violence.
[Images via Weibo]
0 User Comments