Two South Korean passengers traveling on a flight from Jeju to Gimpo on March 12 faced a 1 million won (approximately Rp 12,8 juta) fine after standing in the cabin aisle to preach about Christianity and warning passengers they would go to hell, according to court records reported by outlets including The Independent and CNN Indonesia.
South Korean Court Convicts Passengers Under Aviation Security Act
On August 18, the Seoul District Court found the two individuals, both men in their 60s described as pastors, guilty of violating South Korea’s Aviation Security Act, according to coverage from CNN Indonesia and Supernews.co.id. Prosecutors and court officials established that the men disrupted flight operations during the 13-minute incident, ignoring repeated warnings from cabin crew and fellow travelers.
During the altercation, one of the men shouted, “You will go to hell if you do not believe in Jesus,” as flight attendants attempted to guide them back to their assigned seats, as detailed by The Independent. A second passenger joined in, walking up and down the aisle while calling out, “Hallelujah, you will go to hell.” When approached by a flight attendant, one of the men rebuffed the staff member by telling them not to lecture him, according to Supernews.co.id reporting.
Legal Defense and International Aviation Standards
The defendants denied the charges during the legal proceedings. According to court filings cited by CNN Indonesia, the men argued that their actions failed to meet the legal definition of “disturbance” and claimed they harbored no intent to cause a ruckus inside the aircraft cabin.
South Korean aviation laws grant flight crews significant authority to maintain order. Under the nation’s Aviation Security Act, unruly passengers can be subdued using shock weapons and physical restraints, followed by formal police investigation upon landing. Globally, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) defines unruly passengers as individuals who fail to respect behavior rules or staff instructions, thereby compromising safety. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) recorded 93.107 incidents of unruly behavior globally across more than 140 operators, according to figures cited in the reports.
Did you know? International aviation bodies track disruptive incidents rigorously. According to data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) noted in the reporting, thousands of unruly passenger events are logged by global carriers annually.
Frequently Asked Questions
What penalties do unruly passengers face in South Korea?
Under South Korea’s Aviation Security Act, disruptive travelers can be restrained with electroshock weapons and zip ties, subjected to post-flight investigations, and ordered by courts to pay fines, such as the 1 million won penalty issued in this case.
How long did the cabin disturbance last?
According to court records reported by CNN Indonesia, the mid-air preaching and subsequent arguments persisted for 13 minutes while the domestic flight was en route from Jeju to Gimpo.
What exact phrase did the passengers shout at travelers?
As documented by The Independent, one of the men yelled, “You will go to hell if you do not believe in Jesus,” while his companion walked the aisle shouting, “Hallelujah, you will go to hell.”
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