Passenger ‘assaults’ women crew on Air India flight, booked

“The man was seen at the door and was trying to open it. The cabin supervisor and her colleague tried to stop him but he threatened to hit them and used unparliamentary language. He then became violent and hit the cabin supervisor on her neck… she fell to the floor. He also pulled her hair and hit the other crew member on her face. He was restrained with the help of other staff and passengers. The flight had to come back to Delhi. The complaint of the cabin supervisor has been received and legal action is being taken,” said DCP (IGI Airport) Devesh Mahla.

When police questioned him about the incident, he said “he was feeling agitated and upset”.

The flight left IGIA at 6.35 am and returned around 8 am. The man was deboarded and his family also got down and he was handed over to police. The cabin crew members were sent to Medanta Medical Centre near the airport for an MLC. Doctors said results are pending.

Based on the complaint, a case has been registered against the man under IPC sections 323 (causing hurt), 336 (act endangering personal safety of others), 354 (assault with intent to outrage woman’s modesty) and 509 (word/gesture/act insulting modesty of woman) and under the Aircraft Rules, 1937. Police said they are checking if he was drunk.

According to the airline, he didn’t pay heed to verbal and written warnings and continued with the unruly behaviour, causing physical harm to two of the cabin crew members. “The pilot in command decided to return to Delhi and the passenger was handed over to the security personnel upon landing. Safety, security and dignity of all on board is important to us at Air India. We are providing all possible support to the affected crew members. We regret the inconvenience caused to the passengers and have rescheduled the flight to depart for London this afternoon,” Air India said in a statement Monday.

The flight later took off with the other passengers.

Meanwhile, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) released an advisory for pilots, cabin crew and airlines saying: “The individual’s/airline’s responsibility for handling incidents of unruly behaviour including smoking in aircraft, consumption of alcoholic beverages resulting in unruly behaviour, altercations… and incidents of inappropriate touching or sexual harassment by passengers on board… during the flight have been specified under various provisions of Aircraft Rules 1937, DGCA regulations, circulars and manuals of Airlines…”

The advisory mentions that passengers should be made aware in case their behaviour is unruly and that they can be arrested on arrival at the destination or at another airport.