Sitting next to an unruly airline passenger? Here's what to do

Brace yourself for a summer of aggressive seat mates — and more inflight incidents

Illustration by Christopher Elliott

It happened to Jason Loomis on a flight from Los Angeles to Boston. A passenger sitting in the row ahead of him became visibly upset and started shouting.

Loomis, an information security officer from El Segundo, Calif., tried to calm him by striking up a conversation. It didn't work.

"He bolted out of his seat and said, …