Use an IOR for Passenger Incidents

Date: February 3, 2023

As Flight Attendants we have several tools to report incidents that may arise through the course of our workday. Understanding which reporting tools are best used for a given situation can directly lead to actionable results that improve the safety of our industry.

An import component of an Inflight Safety Action Program (ISAP) report is that in the review process information about anyone involved is redacted for non-punitive review. This makes it beneficial for reporting incidents related to the following examples:

• Non-compliant LINK device

• Incorrect Placarding
• Failing to complete an exit row briefing prior to push back
• Missing or incorrect safety equipment
• Forgetting to disarm a door after arrival that is corrected by another Flight Attendant (i.e near miss.)

When faced with an unruly passenger incident, including non-compliance such as smoking in the lavatory, an Irregular Operations Report (IOR) is the preferred method for documenting and reporting on the incident. An IOR is used to document any incident involving customers or crew members that is out of the ordinary and may require follow-up by the company or the FAA.

Unlike the ISAP (Inflight Safety Action Program) report, the IOR does not redact information about the passenger in questions. This means action can be taken by the FAA and the company when warranted.

Knowing which report to file ensures Flight Attendants are protected and that the information provided by the Flight Attendant to management is directed to the correct review committees for the most effective resolution of any issues/concerns.