Drunk Passenger Urinates On Woman In Air India Flight; DGCA Seeks Report

The passengers were on board for an Air India flight from New York to Delhi.

(Image Courtesy: Twitter; Altered by The Quint)

In news that's giving people the creeps, an intoxicated man urinated on an elderly co-passenger in the business class of an Air India flight on 26 November.

Although he was able to leave the airport without any action taken against him, Air India has now placed the unruly passenger on the no-fly list, imposing a 30-day ban on him.

The incident: The inebriated man allegedly unzipped his trousers and urinated on another passenger, who's in her 70s. Since the lights were dimmed after lunch, few on board noticed him.

He allegedly didn't move after urinating and had to be asked to leave by a co-passenger.

The woman approached the crew, complaining that her clothes, shoes and bag were soaked.

Did the airline staff help? The airline staff reportedly provided her with a fresh set of clothes and slippers, thereby asking her to return to her seat.

He left without consequences: Times of India reported that the drunk man left the airport as soon as the flight landed in Delhi, without facing any consequences for his repulsive behaviour.

The follow up: The airline only took action after the woman wrote a letter, detailing the incident and sent it to the chairman of Tata Group, N Chandrasekaran.

She explained in her letter that she was first given a crew seat, since she refused to sit on her original seat, soaked in urine. In an hour, the crew allegedly requested the woman to return to her seat, after disinfecting it and covering it in sheets. The woman remained assertive throughout, refusing to take her seat since it still reeked of urine.

Eventually, she was seated in a different crew seat where she spent the rest of the flight. The woman alleged that despite several business class seats being vacant, she was not given another cabin seat.

What authorities are saying now: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has sought a report from the airline.

"We shall take action against those found negligent."

DGCA Regulator

Further, as per sources in Air India, the passenger has been put on a no-fly list. Latest updates confirm that a 30-day ban has been imposed on him.

Air India constituted an internal committee and recommended to put the male passenger on the 'no-fly list'. The matter is under a government committee and a decision is awaited.

Air India sources to NDTV

NCW seeks action: The National Commission for Women has taken cognizance of the incident, urging immediate action against the unruly flier. They have shared an official statement, detailing the actions they have taken.

Chairperson Ms Rekha Sharma has written to Commissioner of Police, Delhi to immediately register FIR in the matter under relevant provisions of law and to take strict action against the culprit for causing mental trauma to an elderly woman. The Commission has also written to the Chairman, Air India Limited to intervene in the matter and to take appropriate action against the culprit for the horrendous behaviour to an elderly woman on flight and violating her right to live a life of dignity and safety.

NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR WOMEN'S PRESS REPORT

They have further added, "A detailed action taken in the matter must be communicated to the Commission within 7 days."

(With inputs from NDTV and Times of India.)