Air India puts 30-day ban on man who urinated on co-passenger; DGCA seeks report

On November 26, an inebriated male passenger urinated on a female co-passenger during a flight from New York to Delhi

A drunk man urinated on a woman co-passenger onboard a flight from New York to Delhi in November last year and left without any action but weeks after, Air India has imposed a 30-day flying ban on the passenger and reported it to the civil aviation regulator for putting him in a no-fly list.

The airline has also constituted an internal probe to find out the lapses on part of its crew in addressing the situation on board and allowing the flier to go scot free. The incident came to light after the woman flier emailed to Air India Chairman N Chandrasekaran

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has sought a report from the airline on the incident which happened on November 26. Air India has also filed a police complaint.

An Air India spokesperson said the airline has taken a very serious view of the incident, where a passenger behaved in an "unacceptable and undignified manner" that caused extreme distress to a fellow passenger.

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Air India has "banned the passenger for 30 days, the maximum it is permitted to unilaterally do so, and reported the matter to the DGCA for further action," the spokesperson said but did not provide details about when the flying ban was imposed.

"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," the spokesperson said adding, the airline is in regular contact with the flier and her family during the investigation and reporting process.

The flyer had urinated on the woman flier who was flying in business class when the lights were dimmed after a meal. The man allegedly did not return to his seat until another passenger intervened.

The woman then complained to the crew, who provided her with a set of clothes and slippers while asking her to return to her seat saying that no other seat was available. Initially, she was allowed to sit on a crew's seat but later she was asked to return to her own seat.

As the offender was allowed to leave with any action, the woman flier then reached out to Chandrasekaran describing her experience as "most traumatic".