While the aviation regulator DGCA has pulled up Air India for its inaction over a urination incident on New York-Paris flight on November 26 last year, another mid-air peeing incident has come to the fore on Paris-Delhi Air India flight 142 where a drunken man allegedly urinated on the blanket of a female passenger.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a show-cause notice to Air India officials and the crew onboard the New York-Paris flight in connection with the incident saying the airline’s conduct was “unprofessional” and led to “systemic failure”.
The notices said why action should not be taken against Air India officials the and crew members for dereliction of duty.
The drunken man who urinated on a female passenger has been identified as Shekhar Mishra. He is yet to be arrested.
Mishra is a businessman hailing from Mumbai’s Mira Road area and the efforts are on to nab him. According to the Delhi Police, Mishra is currently not present in his Mumbai’s residence. “If the suspect doesn’t cooperate then the police will send a look-out circular (LOC),” said the Delhi Police officials.
The DGCA sought the details of the incident from Air India and on the basis of reply of the airline, prima facie it emerges that provisions related to handling of an unruly passenger on-board have not been complied with.
“The conduct of the concerned airline appears to be unprofessional and has led to a systemic failure. Prima facie it lacks appreciation of regulatory obligations as described in applicable Aircraft Rules 1937, Civil Aviation Requirements on ‘Handling of Unruly Passengers’, Cabin Safety Circular, Air India Operations Manual, Air India Safety and Emergency Procedure Manual and Air India Quick Reference Handbook and is devoid of empathy,” it said.
According to DGCA, show cause notices have been issued to Air India’s Accountable Manager, Director in-flight Services, all the pilots and cabin crew members of that flight as to why enforcement action should not be taken against them for dereliction of their regulatory obligations.
They have been given two weeks time to submit their reply to DGCA and based on that further action will be taken.
Air India in its reply to DGCA said its cabin crew received a complaint from a female passenger on board AI 102 of November 26, that a male co-passenger had soiled her clothes and bags etc by relieving himself near the seat she was in.
“The crew assisted the female passenger to a different seat in the same class and provided a set of dry clothes and slippers. The female passenger initially requested that action be taken against the offender upon arrival, however subsequently rescinded her request after the two parties appeared to sort the matter out between them. Cabin crew reported the incident to the Commander and logged it in the Voyage Report. As there was no further flare up or confrontation, and respecting the perceived wishes of the female passenger, crew elected not to summon law enforcement upon landing,” Air India said.
“The aggrieved passenger has been refunded the fare for the sector she was travelling on that flight. We have also been in regular contact with the aggrieved passenger and her family during the investigation and reporting process,” it added.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) also directed the airline to conduct an internal probe into the matter and submit the report as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, yet another mid air peeing incident has come to the fore on Paris-Delhi Air India flight 142 where a drunken man allegedly urinated on the blanket of a female passenger. The pilot of the aircraft reported the matter to the Air Traffic Control (ATC) at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport about it, following which the male passenger was apprehended.
The incident took place on December 6. No action was taken as the male passenger gave a written apology. It is not known which class the passengers were travelling in.