iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
A second incident of a drunk air passenger allegedly urinating on a blanket of a female passenger on an Air India flight has come to light.
The incident was reported on Air India flight 142 on the Paris-Delhi sector last month but penal action was not initiated, following an apology and mutual compromise.
Sources said that the matter was reported to the Air Traffic Control (ATC) at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport and subsequently, the male passenger was apprehended.
The flight landed at nearly 9.40 a.m. at Delhi and the airport security was informed about the issue that the male passenger was under the influence of alcohol and he was not following the instructions of the cabin crew, and he later urinated on a blanket of an onboard woman passenger.
Sources said that the woman passenger had initially made a written complaint, however, she refused to file a police case and the passenger was allowed to go by the airport security after he cleared immigration and customs formalities.
According to sources, the male passenger was brought to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) as soon as he deboarded the plane. However, he was later allowed to go after a mutual compromise between the two passengers.
This is another incident which took place just over a week after the November 26 incident where a man allegedly urinated on a female co-passenger onboard a New York-Delhi Air India flight.
Meanwhile, aviation regulator DGCA has received responses from Air India on the incident of Mumbai-based businessman urinating on a female co-passenger on board an AI flight on November 26 last year.
As per sources, the airline has said that its internal committee has obtained the necessary documentation and held its first hearing and the alleged perpetrator has requested for additional documents prior to a second hearing scheduled for January 10.
Meanwhile, the DGCA has received response from Air India on the incident of Mumbai-based businessman urinating on a female co-passenger on board an AI flight on November 26 last year.
A senior DGCA official said that the regulator is examining their response. “We are examining their response. We will comment afterwards,” said the official.
As per sources, the airline has said that its internal committee has obtained the necessary documentation and held its first hearing and the alleged perpetrator has requested for additional documents prior to a second hearing scheduled for January 10.
The airline has also informed the regulator that a case has been registered with Palam police station (Delhi) on the incident and the aggrieved passenger has been refunded the fare for the sector she was travelling on (New York-Delhi-Bengaluru).
In addition, Air India is reviewing its standing instructions to crew on the reporting of such incidents to authorities on arrival, including in scenarios where the alleged victim does not wish such a report to be made, said the response.
As per sources, the airline’s response said, “Air India cabin crew received a complaint from a female passenger on board AI 102 of 26th November 2022 that a male co-passenger had soiled her clothes and bags etc by relieving himself near the seat she was in.”
The airline said that the crew assisted the female passenger to a different seat in the same class and provided a set of dry clothes and slippers. The female passenger initially requested that action be taken against the offender upon arrival, however subsequently rescinded her request after the two parties appeared to sort the matter out between them, said the airline in its response, as per sources.
“Cabin crew reported the incident to the Commander and logged it in the Voyage Report. As there was no further flare up or confrontation, and respecting the perceived wishes of the female passenger, the crew elected not to summon law enforcement upon landing,” the response said.
As per the response, the matter has been reported to the Internal Committee in accordance with DGCA CAR for declaring the passenger “unruly”. Pending report from Internal Committee, the passenger has been banned from flying on Air India for 30 days, or report of the Committee, whichever is earlier.
Second incident of Air India passenger urinating on co-passenger on international flight
