3 held in assault on airline workers

Police in Central China's Hunan province have detained three airline passengers after they were caught on video slapping, verbally abusing and throwing food at ground staff in anger over a delayed flight, Changsha Evening News reported on Tuesday.

Video of Monday's incident at the airport in Changsha, capital of Hunan province, has circulated widely on the internet as the latest example of bad behavior by Chinese airline passengers.

The flight, JD5766, was supposed to leave Changsha at 3 pm and arrive in the southern resort city of Sanya around 9:30 pm. However, the flight was delayed because of poor weather. The local newspaper said the airport and airline company gave an explanation to passengers, arranged food and accommodation, and gave each passenger about 200 yuan ($30) in compensation.

Three passengers had apparently become upset and were not satisfied with the arrangement. As female staff tried to mollify passengers, two men and a woman shouted, flung the contents of a lunch box and finally slapped one of the staffers on the face.

The ground staff member is still in hospital for medical treatment, according to Changsha Evening News.

Concerned about such incidents on the ground and in the air, the China Air Transport Association introduced a blacklist in February for airline passengers who act disruptively or dangerously.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China last year laid out 11 types of behavior that is strictly prohibited on flights and at terminals, including creating disturbances at check-in counters, damaging airport security facilities and intimidating or assaulting crew members.

Passenger records will be shared throughout the country's civil aviation and tourism industries. Those who are blacklisted will face penalties that include being denied special seats, ticket discounts or even service.

AP contributed to this story.