精神病患者能不能坐飞机 Mentally unstable passenger causes onboard disturbance, sparking heated debate

A female passenger identified by surname Niu had disputes in business class(商务舱) of Air China flight CA4107 with another passenger who made a phone call during taxiing(滑行) but before take-off on July 12. Niu kept shouting(喊叫) and behaved violently during the whole journey and claimed to be a supervisor of Air China.

Screenshot from Sina Weibo shows scriptwriter Li Yaling exposing a video, saying the passenger kept behaving violently on board. [Photo: China Plus]

Famous scriptwriter Li Yaling, who was in business class during the same flight, exposed the case on Sina Weibo and it caused hot debate online on how to protect(保护) the rights(权利) of both mental patients and other passengers.

Niu is actually a stewardess rather than a supervisor in the company, but she hasn't worked for a long time due to her mental health issues, said Xu Yanchun, head of the publicity department of Air China in an interview with The Beijing News two days later.

Li wrote on her Weibo posting that the cabin crew(乘务员) had apologized(道歉) many times during the flight. Air China, however, claimed it has no right to refuse mental patients to board(登记), adding that it acted appropriately and will not make any compensation(补偿) to other passengers.

Li also said Niu has been exposed by netizens that she has on a number of other occasions caused disturbances at airports, on planes, subways and buses.

Screenshot from Sina Weibo shows scriptwriter Li Yaling exposing a video, saying the passenger kept behaving violently on board. [Photo: China Plus]

Many netizens argue that if airlines allow a mental patient to board without a guardian they are very likely to compromise the security(安全) on board and other passengers' safety.

A lawyer in Beijing suggested that passengers with mental health issues should make an application(申请) and prove that they are in a stable(稳定的) condition during the scheduled flight. For those who obviously behave abnormally when boarding, airlines should have the right to refuse(拒绝) the passenger.

China's civil aviation regulations stipulate that for people with infectious diseases(传染病), mental health issues or other conditions that may harm themselves or others, airliners should not allow them to board.

重点词汇 Key Word:

精神 [jīng shén] <名词 n.>

• Spirit; mind; consciousness
  E.g. Nà shìgè shēntǐ hé jīngshén dōu yǒu bìng de rén.
  那是个身体和精神都有病的人。
  That was a sick man, mentally and physically.

• Essence; spirit; gist
  E.g. Hùwài sànbù huì ràng rén gǎndào jīngshén bǎomǎn.
  户外散步会让人感到精神饱满。
  A walk in the fresh air will pep one up.

精神 [jīng shen]

• <名词 n.> energy; vitality; drive
  E.g. Tā jīngshen bùzhèn.
  他精神不振。
  His spirits dropped.

• <形容词 adj.> vigorous; lively
  E.g. Jīngshen diǎn!
  精神点!
  Show your mettle.

• <形容词 adj.> smart; cute
  E.g. Tā chuān zhè jiàn yīfu shì bùshì hěn jīngshen?
  他穿这件衣服是不是很精神?
  Wouldn't the dress look cute on him?