Russians may ban alcohol on airplanes

MOSCOW – Russian police say it happens far too often: Air travelers, drunk even before departure, cause disturbances that delay flights or worse.

Now the Interior Ministry is considering calling for an alcohol ban on commercial flights, Russian news agencies reported Thursday.

“I don’t rule out that we will raise the question of the need to prohibit alcoholic drinks aboard airplanes,” said Vyacheslav Zakharenkov, the head of a ministry department responsible for transport.

Police are concerned by “instances of debauches by drunken citizens that cause departure delays,” he said.

Zakharenkov mentioned a recent incident in which a flight from Moscow to Bangkok was reportedly delayed for some 10 hours after a handful of drunken passengers smoked cigarettes on the plane and became involved in a confrontation with the cabin crew.