Air India files complaint, hands 30-day ban to man who urinated on woman in flight

We’ve also constituted an internal committee to probe lapses on part of Air India’s crew & address the deficiencies that delayed quick redressal of the situation. We’re in regular contact with the aggrieved passenger & her family during the probe&reporting process: Air India Spox

— ANI (@ANI) January 4, 2023

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the country’s civil aviation regulator, has started investigations into the matter. “We are seeking a report from the airline and shall take action against those found negligent,” DGCA chief Arun Kumar told The Indian Express.

Air India lodged the complaint on December 28, 2022, more than a month after the incident — the airline is being criticised for the way it handled the incident.

Based on the airline’s complaint, Delhi Police on Wednesday registered an FIR under different Sections, including obscene act in a public place, assault or criminal force with intent to outrage modesty of a woman and misconduct in public by a drunken person.

The incident took place with a woman, who is a senior citizen, on board flight AI-102 between New York and Delhi on November 26 last year.

According to the complainant, about a couple of hours into the flight, shortly after lunch was served and the lights were switched off, she was getting ready to sleep when an inebriated passenger walked to her seat and relieved himself on her.

The woman complained to the cabin crew, who intervened by cleaning her seat and provided her a change of clothes but allegedly did not restrain the passenger or file a complaint.

“After changing, I stood near the toilet for about 20 minutes. I asked for a change of seat, but was informed that there were no seats available,” the woman passenger wrote about her ordeal to Air India chairman N Chandrasekaran.

She wrote: “One of the senior stewardesses came after 20 minutes and offered me the small seat used by the airline staff, where I sat for about an hour. I was then asked to return to my initial soiled seat. Although the staff had put sheets on top, the area was still damp and reeking of urine.

“Two hours later, I was given the steward’s seat, where I sat for the remainder of the flight — approximately 5 hours.”

In a statement, Air India said they have banned the passenger for 30 days. “As a first step, Air India has banned the passenger for 30 days, the maximum it is permitted to unilaterally do so, and reported the matter to DGCA for further action.”

Sources said the passenger may be banned from flights for a longer duration.

The airline stated, “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.”