Air India Fined Heavily for Failing to Report Unruly Passenger Behaviour on Paris-New Delhi Flight

The aviation regulator, the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has recently imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh on Air India for not reporting two incidents of passenger misbehavior that occurred on board the airline’s flight AI-142 from Paris to New Delhi on December 6, 2020.

The first incident involved a passenger who was caught smoking in the lavatory and who was allegedly drunk and not adhering to the crew’s instructions. The second incident involved a passenger who allegedly relieved himself on a vacant seat and blanket of a fellow female passenger when she went to the lavatory.

The DGCA said that after reviewing the reply submitted by Air India through email dated January 6, it had become clear that provisions related to the handling of unruly passengers as per DGCA CAR Section -3, Series-M, Part-VI had not been complied with. The regulator also noted that the response of the airline had been “lackadaisical and delayed”.

In response to these incidents, the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) issued a notice to Delhi Police, Air India, and the DGCA. The Commission asked the DGCA to provide details of the standard operating procedures and guidelines being followed by all the airlines to deal with any case of sexual harassment on flights. The DCW also asked DGCA as to why the accused have not been put on the no-flyer list.