Passenger Assaults IndiGo Pilot Over Flight Delay How Are Airlines Expected To Respond

A Man On Board A Delhi-Goa Indigo Flight Service, Where A Passenger Assaulted The Captain After Hours-long Delay. Flight 6E2175, Which Was Scheduled To Take Off At 7:40 AM, Departed...

Zaheer Hussain
January 17, 2024
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A Man On Board A Delhi-Goa Indigo Flight Service, Where A Passenger Assaulted The Captain After Hours-long Delay. Flight 6E2175, Which Was Scheduled To Take Off At 7:40 AM, Departed At 05:35 PM After Facing “Multiple Delays”.

Passenger Assaults IndiGo Pilot Over Flight Delay How Are Airlines Expected To Respond?

Why In The News?

A Man On Board A Delhi-Goa Indigo Flight Service, Where A Passenger Assaulted The Captain After Hours-long Delay.
Flight 6E2175, Which Was Scheduled To Take Off At 7:40 AM, Departed At 05:35 PM After Facing “Multiple Delays”.

How Did IndiGo Responded?

IndiGo Has Initiated The Process Of Putting On The No-fly List A Passenger Who Assaulted A Pilot After The Flight Was Delayed For Several Hours Amid Heavy Fog In Delhi.
The Airline Declared The Passenger “Unruly”, And Further Action Will Be Guided By The Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) On “Handling Of Unruly Passengers” Issued By The Aviation Watchdog Directorate General Of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

How Are Airlines Supposed To Respond?

The Airline Should First Inform The Passengers Concerned That In Case Their Behaviour Is Deemed Unruly As Per The Guidelines, They Could Be Arrested.
Unruly Behaviour Includes (But Is Not Limited To):
Consuming Liquor Or Drugs Resulting In Unruly Behaviour; Smoking; Not Obeying The Pilot’s Instructions; Using Threatening Or Abusive Language Against Crew Or Other Passengers; Physically Threatening And Abusive Behaviour; Intentionally Interfering With Discharge Of Duties By The Crew; And Endangering The Safety Of The Aircraft And Those On Board.
If The Pilots And The Airline’s Central Control Believe That The Unruly Passenger Cannot Be Brought Under Control By The Cabin Crew, They Must Land As Soon As Possible At The Nearest Available Airport.
Upon Landing Airline Representative Shall Lodge FIR (First Information Report) With The Concerned Security Agency At Aerodrome, To Whom, The Unruly Passenger Shall Be Handed Over.

Category Levels Of Disruptive Passenger Behaviour?

Level 1: Unruly Behaviour, Including Physical Gestures, Verbal Harassment, And Unruly Inebriation.
Level 2: Physically Abusive Behaviour, Including Pushing, Kicking, Hitting, And Grabbing Or Inappropriate Touching Or Sexual Harassment.
Level 3: Life-threatening Behaviour, Including Damage To Aircraft Operating Systems, Physical Violence Such As Choking, Eye Gouging, Murderous Assault, And Attempted Or Actual Breach Of Flight Crew Compartment.

What Penalties Can Unruly Behaviour Attract?

The Airline Can Ban The Unruly Passenger For Up To 30 Days Immediately After The Incident. Airlines Are Required To Maintain A Database Of Unruly Passengers And Share It With The DGCA And Other Airlines. The DGCA Maintains A No-fly List Based On The Data Shared By Carriers.
In Addition To The Airline On Whose Aircraft The Incident Occurred, Other Carriers Also Have The Option Of Banning Such Passengers From Flying For Varying Durations Based On Offence Levels.
For Level 1 And 2 Offences, The Ban On Flying Can Extend To Three Months And Six Months, Respectively. For A Level 3 Offence, The Minimum Ban Should Be For 2 Years, With No Upper Limit.
An Individual Who Is Banned From Flying Can Appeal Within 60 Days To An Appellate Committee Constituted By The Ministry Of Civil Aviation And Headed By A Retired Judge Of A High Court. An Appeal Against The Appellate Panel’s Decision Shall Be Made To A High Court.

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Zaheer Hussain

Senior Lecturer General Studies, SSBCrackExams, Passionate Teacher, Masters in Public Administration, Expertise in Polity, History and Current Affairs. Loves Food and traveling Solo.