MOSCOW, March 12 - RAPSI. Over 3,000 people have been punished for drinking on board airplanes and in airports in Russia since the start of 2013, Yury Gruzdev, official representative of the Interior Ministry's transport department, told RIA Novosti.

He added that 305 people had been fined for hooliganism on flights and in airports.

Last year, over 22,000 passengers were fined for drinking and over 2,000 for hooliganism, Gruzdev said. He added that in accordance with Russia's Air Laws and Regulations, only the pilot in command may order a passenger to be offloaded.

He said that the police may stop passengers from boarding only if they are on a wanted list or if prohibited items or substances are found in their luggage.

In regards to the proposal to black list certain passengers, Gruzdev said that he believed this would breach people's constitutional rights and would contradict the federal law on personal information.

"I suggest that we give air carriers the right to take alcohol bought at duty free shops away from passengers for storage during the flight and to limit the sale of alcohol on flights," he said.

The Interior Ministry has forwarded these proposals to the Ministry of Transport.

There have been a number of drunken rows and fights on board Russian planes recently.

Businessman Sergei Kabalov attacked several flight attendants on a flight to Egypt last month. He has been charged with attempting to hijack a plane.

On February 4, a criminal case was opened against Vladimir Popov for causing bodily harm to a police major who tried to restrain him in Domodedovo Airport in Moscow.

The Moscow transport department of the Investigative Committee has initiated a similar case against Artyom Bondarenko, who attacked police officers and staff at the VIP lounge in Sheremetyevo Airport.