An inebriated male passenger urinated on a female co-passenger in Air India's business class on November 26, 2022. Air India has lodged a police complaint regarding the incident, which took place on November 26 when the flight was on its way from JFK (US) to Delhi.
Air India issued statement after incident
Air India issued a statement on Wednesday condemning the incident strongly. The airline has also imposed a ban on the man who peed on her fellow female passenger on flight. The internal committe has been handed over the case for investigation and the airline assured strict actions against the ones found at fault.
Air India in their statement said, "Air India has taken a very serious note of the incident, where a passenger behaved in an unacceptable and undignified manner on the New York-Delhi flight that caused extreme distress to a fellow passenger. A police complaint has already been lodged in this case and Air India is committed to assist the law enforcement agencies as well as regulatory authorities to ensure that justice is delivered to the aggrieved passenger."
Further adding, "As a first step, Air India has already reported the matter to the Internal Committee in accordance with DGCA CAR – for declaring the pax unruly. Meanwhile, the passenger has been banned from flying with Air India for 30 days or till the decision of the internal committee, whichever is earlier. If found guilty, action will be taken against the unruly passenger as per regulatory guidelines."
"We have also constituted an internal committee to probe lapses on part of Air India’s crew and address the deficiencies that delayed quick redressal of the situation. We are in regular contact with the aggrieved passenger and her family during the investigation and reporting process,” said the statement.
FIR registered after incident by Delhi Police
A first information report (FIR) was registered by Delhi Police after the incident was reported and a complaint was given to police on behalf of the airline on December 28. Further investigation updates are underway.
The Delhi Police said in a statement, "FIR being registered after an inebriated male passenger urinated on a female co-passenger in Air India's business class on Nov 26. Matter was reported to Air India by female passenger, after which a complaint was given to police on behalf of Air India on December 28."
Air India takes action over the incident
Air India after quite a time of the incident has now looked actively into the case. Taking strict actions and giving justice to the discomfort caused to the female passenger is what the airline has decided to do.
"Air India constituted an internal committee in this incident and recommended to put the male passenger on 'no-fly list', the matter is under government committee and decision is awaited," said an Air India official.
DGCA seeks report
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has looked into the matter with an aim to take strict actions against the ones who are found negligent in the shocking incident. DGCA has asked for a detailed report of the incident from Air India.
"We are seeking a report from the Airline and shall take action against those found negligent," said a statement from Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Action initiated after passenger wrote letter to Tata chairman
According to a report in TOI, the airline initiated a probe on the incident after the passenger wrote a letter to N Chandrasekaran, chairman, Tata Group about the traumatic incident she faced on flight.
The female passenger in her seventies was on her way from New York to Delhi. While she was seated on her seat in the business class, one of her fellow passengers came towards her in completely drunk state.He then unzipped his pants and started urinating on her, leaving her clothes, seat and bag all wet.
Cabin crew failed to take any strict action against the drunk man
She immediately alerted the cabin crew about the shocking incident but to her surprise, the cabin crew didn't take any strict action instead they sprayed disinfectant on her seat and belongings, also provided her a set of pyjamas and footwear.
Woman made to sit on narrow cabin crew seat for hours
She was then seated on a narrow cabin crew seat for hours, even though there were seats vacant in the first class. To add up to her trauma after incident, the unruly passenger was let go free after flight while the victim was assured quick passage though immigration using a wheelchair.
Ultimately, even after using a wheelchair, she waited for another 30 minutes to finally get clear of her customs and get all her luggage by herself.
