MUMBAI: Responding to the occurrence of a guy allegedly urinating over a senior female co-passenger on an Air India New York-Delhi flight, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has actually slapped a fine of 30 lakh on the airline company for breaching standards in handling the rowdy passenger.The regulator likewise suspended the pilot-in-commands licence for three months and slapped a fine of 3 lakh on the airlines director in-flight services.
Its the very first such instance in India of an airline company being fined for breaching standards when dealing with a disorderly passenger.
The occurrence of passenger wrongdoing which occurred on Air India flight on November 26, 2022 from New York to New Delhi, pertained to the notice of DGCA on January 4 where a male traveler conducted himself in a disorderly way and supposedly relieved himself on a female guest, said a statement provided by the DGCA.
TOI released a report about the incident on January 4.
After the flight landed, the male guest left without the airline company crew filing a report.
On January 5, the DGCA issued show-cause notifications to the accountable manager of Air India, director in-flight services and all the pilots and cabin team members of that flight as to why enforcement action should not be taken versus them for dereliction of their regulative responsibilities.
Air India submitted a written reply just recently, following which the DGCA started the action.
The pilot-in-commands license was suspended for a period of three months for failing to release tasks according to Rule 141 of the Aircraft Rules, 1937 and relevant DGCA Civil Aviation Requirements, said the DGCA statement.
Under the stated Rule 141, the pilot-in-command is charged with the obligation of supervising and directing other crew members for an appropriate discharge of their responsibilities.
In addition to being accountable for the operation and security of the aircraft during flight time, the Pilot-in-command shall be responsible for the safety of the guests and freight carried and for the upkeep of flight discipline and security of the members of the team, it states.
Air India in a statement said it had actually gotten a copy of the DGCA order.
We respectfully acknowledge the spaces in our reporting and are taking relevant steps to make sure that the exact same are resolved.
We are also reinforcing our teams awareness of and compliance with policies on the handling of occurrences involving rowdy guests.
Air India is dedicated to wait the safety and well-being of our guests, said the Air India spokesperson.Air India Urination Incident: DGCA slaps Rs 30 lakh fine on Air India; suspends pilots license for 3 months