An Air India flight from Goa to Delhi witnessed an incident where a male passenger physically assaulted a crew member onboard. The unruly passenger was handed over to security personnel after the flight landed at Delhi airport. The airline confirmed the incident and stated that the passenger verbally abused and physically assaulted a crew member during the flight. The aggressive behavior continued upon landing, leading to the intervention of security personnel. Air India has reported the incident to the regulatory authorities.
Further details about the incident were not immediately available. The airline emphasized the importance of the safety of both crew and passengers, condemning the unruly behavior of the passenger. They assured their full support to the affected crew members.
This incident adds to the recent occurrences of unruly passenger behavior onboard flights. Earlier this month, Air India imposed a two-year flying ban on an individual who caused harm to two female cabin crew members on a Delhi-London flight.
Under the regulations of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), unruly air passengers can face flying bans of varying durations. The DGCA classifies unruly behavior into three levels: Level 1 includes gestures, verbal harassment, and inebriation; Level 2 encompasses physically abusive behavior such as pushing, kicking, or sexual harassment; and Level 3 involves life-threatening actions like damaging aircraft systems or engaging in physical violence such as choking or murderous assault.
The duration of the flying ban depends on the level of unruly behavior and is determined by an internal committee established by the respective airline. The aim of these measures is to ensure the safety and security of flights and discourage such misconduct by passengers.
