Core Concern
- The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) observed that many airlines:
- Delayed reporting incidents of unruly passenger behaviour.
- In some cases, did not report such incidents at all.
- Unruly behaviour is being flagged as a growing safety concern for passengers, crew, and overall flight operations.
Relevance : GS 2( Governance, Policy, and Administration)
Revised Reporting Guidelines
- Airlines must:
- Report incidents via email within 12 hours to the Chief of Flight Safety or Director of Cabin Safety.
- Submit detailed information within 24 hours of flight landing to DGCA.
- Applicable to:
- All scheduled and non-scheduled operators, including those with cabin crew on board.
Operational Responsibility
- Pilots, cabin crew, and in-flight service directors are reminded of obligations under:
- Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) relating to unruly passengers.
- Earlier circulars emphasized vigilance and timely action in handling in-flight misconduct.
Nature of Incidents Reported
- The advisory follows several types of serious onboard incidents, including:
- Alcohol-induced aggression
- Passenger scuffles after verbal disputes
- Sexual harassment of co-passengers
- Actions compromising flight safety
Regulatory and Legal Measures
- As per DGCA guidelines (2017):
- Airlines must refer complaints to an Internal Committee.
- The committee must:
- Complete its review within 30 days.
- Decide on ban duration for the offending passenger.
- While the inquiry is pending, the airline can impose a temporary ban.
- Repeat offences:
- Penalty duration will be twice that of the previous ban.
Legal Enforcement
- For cognisable offences (e.g., assault, harassment), law enforcement agencies are empowered to initiate legal action in parallel.
- Airlines are expected to coordinate with authorities when incidents meet criminal thresholds.
Significance of the Advisory
- Reinforces the need for:
- Timely and transparent reporting
- Safety-first culture in air travel
- Aims to:
- Deter misconduct
- Maintain discipline and accountability
- Protect both crew welfare and passenger experience
