Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 171; Flight Crew Total 341; Flight Crew Type 341
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Security; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Passenger Misconduct
General Police / Security Involved
Company Policy; Human Factors
Yesterday on flight ZZZ-ZZZ1 we had a disruptive passenger who was disruptive for most of the flight. Before we pushed from the gate; the FM (Flight Manager) came into the cockpit and told us that the passenger seated in XX was already giving her trouble. The passenger refused to sit in his assigned seat and demanded to sit in an aisle seat. The passenger was moved to XA. He also would not get off his phone and was not listening to directions from the Flight Attendants. After we took off; the FM called us and advised that the passenger got up to use the lavatory while the seatbelt sign was still on. The FM had told the passenger that the Flight Attendants were instructed to remain seated for turbulence; but the passenger unlocked the lavatory door and used it against direction from the flight crew. During flight; the passenger became irate and belligerent. He began yelling at the Flight Attendants and passengers; using racial slurs; verbal obscenities; and was berating the two Flight Attendants working the main cabin. The FM confronted the individual and the passenger advised her that he was drunk and apologized. Then; as she walked away; he called her an obscene name. This information was then forwarded to us in the flight deck; along with the additional information that the passenger was banging on the bulkhead; punching his seat; yelling; and demanding free food and drinks. I pulled out the FOM to look up threat levels and concluded that we were at a Threat Level 1. My Captain then said to me; 'Sounds like we have a Threat Level 1.' And I said I was just looking it up and that I completely agreed. The Captain then stated; 'If we declare a threat level; then we have to do a report' and then he did not do anything. No threat level was declared.As the flight continued; we were informed that the passenger continued to be belligerent until he fell asleep in his seat. The FM also told me that a passenger had said that they saw the passenger in question drink four drinks in quick succession in the bar before the flight. We were also told that a passenger stated that they overheard the drunk passenger state on his phone; 'If anyone gives me trouble on the flight; I have knives.' I did not hear the entirety of the Captain's reply to the FM because I had received a radio call; but his response sounded very dismissive and not supportive at all towards the FM and her concern. After the call; the Captain said 'I don't care if he has ties or not.' I corrected the Captain and said; 'No; she said he has KNIVES;' trying to convey the idea that this passenger is a threat. He didn't make any reply and continued to read on his iPad. I looked again in the FOM and read that a 'threat to use a concealed weapon and/or prohibited item to cause death or serious bodily harm' was a Threat Level 3. While I personally didn't think the threat was entirely credible; since it came from another passenger and he would've had to get the 'knives' past TSA (Transportation Security Administration); I still had the FM's statement in the back of my head. During a bathroom break; I asked the FM if she wanted law enforcement to meet us at the gate. After she replied that she wasn't sure; I told her not to hesitate to ask us and I would back her up in her request.Before we started our descent to Denver; I asked the Captain if he wanted me to call ahead to get law enforcement to meet us at the aircraft; trying to advocate as a First Officer that something needed to happen. The Captain replied no.The flight continued and we landed in Denver and pulled into the gate. The Captain quickly gathered his suitcase and his flight bag; and left the aircraft to go catch our next flight. This left me; the First Officer; to handle the situation with the Flight Attendants. At this point; everyone was off the airplane except the one passenger who was still sleeping. I told the Flight Attendants not to wake him up and let him continue to sleep while we came up with aplan.I went up to the gate area and asked the gate agent to get a Supervisor. After a few minutes and no Supervisor showing up; I went to go find one myself at the adjacent gate. I told her that we had a drunk passenger who refused to get off the aircraft. As the two of us walked down the jet bridge; we could hear him screaming at the Flight Attendants demanding Aspirin. The Supervisor tried to talk to the passenger; but he was very combative and refused to listen to her; hurling curse words and verbal obscenities at her. After a few minutes; the fire department and paramedics arrived; followed shortly by police. After some time; the fire department was able to coax him onto an aisle chair so he could get off the airplane. As the passenger moved close to me in the aisle chair; I could smell the alcohol around him. He was brought up into the terminal where he continued to scream at the police officers; demanding to talk to his attorney. The passenger was placed in handcuffs and taken downstairs to detox.
A320 First Officer reported dealing with an intoxicated and abusive passenger during flight.