Qantas pilot Captain Steve Anderson fears of drugs on planes

The black market in cost-price prescription drugs in Asia has triggered fears from pilots that pill-popping passengers are endangering lives.

Cases of passengers leaping from their seats, "sleep walking" and, in one case, even trying to open an airline door while in flight are among random acts of behavior that have horrified flight crews.

Qantas pilot Captain Steve Anderson said the purchasing of prescription medicine over the counter in Asia without doctor's advice was rampant.

"The problem is that the things they are taking are horrendous when mixed with alcohol. The accessing of prescription-type drugs in Thailand and to a lesser extent in Bali is rampant," he said.

The purchasing of such drugs as antibiotics without prescription overseas is an enormous problem, Australian Medical Association president Steve Hambleton said.

"People can't be certain they're getting what they think they're getting," he said.

"Like you can buy your fake Rolexes and your Tag watches in Asia, in the same way you can buy these sorts of drugs."

Capt Anderson has been on flights when passengers have tried to open doors. "I have been on a flight where someone's decided they have wanted to open the door and jump out," he said. "One gentleman and a young woman decided they wanted to go for a walk in the clouds."

Many cases of bad reactions to drugs were genuine mistakes by people who bought antibiotics or sleeping tablets without prescription and then drunk alcohol, he said.Secretary of the Flight Attendants Association of Australian Jo-Ann Davidson said the issue was of serious concern.

"It's a real issue when people are in a confined space for a period of time. When combined with alcohol and sleep deprivation and changing time zones it's an accident waiting to happen," Ms Davidson said.

A meeting between the federal Department of Transport and Infrastructure this month and Australian representatives of the International Civil Aviation Organization canvassed ways of discouraging passengers from unruly behavior. A uniform international penalty system is being investigated.

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