When the Airline Must Deny Boarding
The Air Code of the Russian Federation (Article 107.1) gives the carrier the right — and in certain situations the duty — to refuse carriage to a passenger who is intoxicated (by alcohol or drugs), if that intoxication causes offence to other passengers or poses a safety risk.
In practice, this means: during the pre-boarding check, cabin crew and airline representatives are obliged to prevent a visibly intoxicated person from boarding.
If the airline does allow such a person on board — and they then cause harm to other passengers (a disturbance, physical contact, a forced delay), the airline bears partial liability for inadequate pre-boarding screening.
What Affected Passengers May Claim
When the flight is delayed due to the removal of a disruptive passenger:
- The passenger is entitled to compensation for the delay under standard rules. For delays of two hours or more: meals (a voucher or compensation). For delays of six or more hours overnight (or eight or more hours during the day): hotel accommodation at the carrier’s expense.
For physical harm or psychological distress caused by the drunk passenger’s conduct:
- The disruptive passenger is personally liable under Article 1064 of the Civil Code (civil liability for harm).
- The airline bears subsidiary liability if it was obliged to prevent the passenger from boarding.
If your trip was ruined (a flight to an important event was delayed):
- The airline compensates only direct losses (the delayed flight), not indirect ones (the missed event). Proving lost profits in such cases is difficult but not impossible.
How to Document the Incident
- Ask cabin crew to draw up an incident report — this is an official document.
- Photograph or video-record the drunk passenger’s conduct.
- Take witness statements — from neighbours in your row, other passengers.
- Record the exact delay time — in your boarding pass, in the airline’s app.
Administrative Liability for the Disruptive Passenger
Causing a disturbance on board is an administrative offence under Article 11.17 of the Administrative Offences Code. The airline is entitled to add the offender to a register of blacklisted passengers — a ban on flying with that carrier.
Read Also
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Were you affected by a drunk passenger on a flight, or was your flight delayed due to a disturbance? Contact us for a consultation — we will help document the incident and bring claims against the airline or the offender.