Air India Rerun: Man Held For Peeing On Passenger On New York-Delhi American Airlines Flight

A man was detained on Sunday evening for allegedly peeing on his co-passenger on an American Airlines flight.

A man travelling on an American Airlines flight from New York to Delhi was detained on Sunday at the airport on landing for allegedly urinating on his fellow passenger. The airline staff reported that the accused Indian passenger was under the influence of alcohol and the incident occurred during an argument. 

The incident happened on board flight AA 292 and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) apprehended the "unruly" passenger after the plane landed at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport around 9 pm on Sunday. The airlines informed the Delhi airport of the incident before landing and the accused was later handed over to the Delhi Police. The victim also filed a formal complaint.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued a statement, saying: "An allegedly inebriated passenger (arriving from New York by American Airlines) relieved himself on another passenger. American Airlines has recorded the statements of co-passengers and handed over the [accused] passenger to law enforcement. An FIR has been lodged."  

There have been similar incidents of passengers allegedly urinating on co-passengers while intoxicated in the recent past. Just Last month, a student was flying on a New York-Delhi American Airlines flight allegedly peed on a co-passenger, a US citizen. He also misbehaved with the staff. The 20-year-old was later detained based on a complaint by the airline. 

Another such incident involved an intoxicated man who allegedly urinated on his co-passenger, an elderly woman, in the business class of an Air India New York-Delhi flight on November 26 last year. The accused Shankar Mishra was arrested from Bengaluru on January 6. The Delhi Police lodged an FIR against Mishra under various sections of the IPC and section 23 of the Aircraft Act for urinating on the woman in the business class of the flight. The accused was granted bail later.

Last month, the victim moved the Supreme Court, seeking a direction to the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and airline companies to frame regulations to address incidents of passenger misconduct on board aircraft. She stressed on implementation of a zero-tolerance policy with respect to "unruly/disruptive behaviour".

Another incident was reported on board an Air India Paris-New Delhi flight on December 6, 2022, when a passenger allegedly relieved himself on a vacant seat and blanket of a fellow female passenger while she went to the lavatory.

(With PTI inputs.)