Korean Air has given flight attendants the green light to use tasers on unruly passengers
On Tuesday, the Seoul-based airline "loosened" the usage policy for tasers located on board its aircraft, CNN reported.
"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 wrote in a statement to Reuters.
However, it is unclear how the airline will implement the new procedure or when it will take effect.
Korean Air was not immediately available to comment.
The policy shift comes one week after Korean Air drew criticism for its handling of an unruly passenger on a flight from Hanoi, Vietnam to Seoul.
On December 20, 80's pop star Richard Marx stepped in to help the Korean Air cabin crew subdue a physically aggressive passenger. On Twitter, Marx criticized the crew of being "ill equipped to handle the situation." In an Instagram post, Marx's wife, former MTV VJ Daisy Fuentes, who was also on the flight, accused Korean Air flight attendants of not knowing how to use the on-board tasers and ropes.
According to Reuters, Korean Air stated that its cabin crew were hesitant to deploy its tasers because the equipment is only allowed to be used in situation where the lives of the passengers and crew are in danger or if the safety of the flight is under threat.
The policy is designed to give cabin crew more leeway in the decision to use tasers.