Korean Air Loosens Up Its Taser Policy For ‘More Active Use’ Because Why Not

Korean Air Loosens Up Its Taser Policy For ‘More Active Use’ Because Why Not

Korean Air gives its flight attendants Tasers for extreme situations, like when the lives of passengers or crew are threatened. But after a midair disturbance last week, the airline has decided to loosen up rules for when Tasers can be used. Specifically, flight attendants are now permitted “more active use” of stun guns when it’s deemed necessary.

Korean Air crew members being trained on the use of stun guns during a media event (Screenshot via YouTube)

An in-flight disturbance by a passenger on Korean Air became international news last week after 1980s singer Richard Marx helped subdue the man. Travelling with his wife, former MTV VJ Daisy Fuentes, Marx called the crew “completely ill-prepared and untrained” and helped tie the crazed passenger to his seat.

Despite being armed with Tasers, Marx insisted that the Korean Air crew had no idea how to use them. Photos from social media show Korean Air aiming their stun guns but never using them. The man was restrained but reportedly broke free three times after assaulting passengers. The entire ordeal last nearly four hours in the air.

“Korean Air should be sanctioned for not knowing how to handle a situation like this without passenger interference,” Marx wrote on Facebook.

Korean Air Loosens Up Its Taser Policy For ‘More Active Use’ Because Why Not
A Korean Air flight attendant holds a Taser gun as other passengers look on and the unruly passenger is subdued (Facebook)

A Korean Air flight attendant holds a Taser gun as other passengers look on and the unruly passenger is subdued (Facebook)

Taser weren’t used during the frightening incident because “the unruly passenger was moving around and there were other passengers near him” according to a statement from the airline. But it sounds like things are about to change.

“We have decided to improve our conditions and procedure on using Taser guns to cope with violent acts and disturbances on board in a fast and efficient manner,” Korean Air said in a statement.

The airline elaborated to CNN that this meant “more active use” of Tasers in the future, but didn’t go into much more detail. Hopefully this means our 1980s pop stars and 1990s VJs can finally travel in peace.

The man who created the disturbance appeared in court this week and said that he had no memory of the incident.

[CNN]


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