Days after an Air India staffer was assaulted by a Shiv Sena MP, the national carrier is seeking amendments to the Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) so unruly passengers do not evade action.
Air India chairman and managing director Ashwani Lohani recently held a meeting with senior officials where he discussed the issue, an Indian Express report said.
“Air India officials present at the meeting highlighted how there are rules meant to govern the conduct of pilots, crew and other airline staff. But no rules exist to punish passengers who misbehave with the crew and sometime even molest airhostesses,” the daily quoted sources as saying.
Officials informed Lohani that staffers usually report untoward incidents to security agencies posted at the airport but many incidents are not reported to the police as the passenger begs forgiveness.
“Concerned over their problems, Lohani has also issued a circular asking all cabin supervisors to immediately send him an email if any unruly passenger misbehaves with Air India staff,” sources said.
The government is looking at the possibility of having a "no-fliers list" and other options to deal with unruly passengers.
Last month Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad assaulted a 62-year-old Air India staffer at the Delhi airport, resulting him being barred by the Air India as well as six other domestic airlines from taking any of their flights.
On March 29, two inebriated British nationals of Indian origin were arrested for allegedly harassing a 28-year-old air hostess on an Air India flight from London to Delhi.
After a complaint was filed, both the accused, who are real estate agents were arrested and later got bail, police said.
Govt mulls no-fliers list, other options to deal with unruly passengers
While a final decision is not yet taken on ways to further strengthen the norms to tackle unruly passengers, a senior government official said last month that various possibilities are being looked at.
The possibility of having a "no-fliers list" is also being looked into, the official at the Civil Aviation Ministry said.
The ministry is working towards making some changes in the Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) on 'Handling of unruly/ disruptive passengers', which was issued back in November 2014.
Even though there is no particular mention of regulatory provisions to bar an unruly passenger from boarding an aircraft, the 2014 CAR mentions that "every reasonable effort to protect passengers and personnel against any offence by unruly and disruptive passengers shall be made".
