Air passenger misbehaviour 'on the rise' Since 2007, when it began recording data, well over 15,000 incidents have been reported to IATA, Mr Colehan said. But there are almost certainly many more which we never hear about. The problem for the airlines and the crews, he said, is that international law has not caught up with the new world of global air travel. Often offenders, like the violent woman passenger on the Bangkok flight, go unpunished because police in countries where planes land say they have no jurisdiction. Worse, IATA says, the lack of clarity in the current 1963 Tokyo Convention that governs such cases leaves cabin crew and pilots uncertain on how to respond. "There is always the fear that they could be sued for assault if they restrain a violent passenger," Mr Colehan said. Other incidents in the skies this year include a violent attack on a stewardess in China, an American viewing pornography on his computer, and a South African couple having sex in first class, according to credible media reports. A Russian woman on a flight from Los Angeles to London drank liquid soap when refused alcohol, and tried to bite a steward. On another plane a man seized wine from a trolley and locked himself in the toilet to drink it. Several years ago, IATA told its 240-odd members - which include almost all the world's scheduled carriers - that they should back their crews and try to ensure that badly behaved passengers are taken to court. But the absence of well defined legislation means that this often leads nowhere. The Tokyo Convention was originally drawn up to deal with hijacks. IATA wants governments to agree at the March conference, convened by the International Civil Aviation Organization, on a new convention that will spell out the right of an airline captain to do what he feels necessary to control misbehaving passengers. But the airlines are not sure of the outcome. "We are confident there will be a new convention, but - with so many governments having to agree - we have to wait to see how it turns out," Mr Colehan said. Air rage on the rise in China Cases of air rage in China are becoming more likely as the number of Chinese people flying increases, a report suggests. Tourists behaving badly: destinations for dubious thrills As Uruguay legalises marijuana, we go on a tour of places where you can indulge in morally-dubious behaviour