DGCA Advisory On Dealing With Unruly Passengers: Exercise Provisions Under Civil Aviation Requirement

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued an advisory to all airlines asking them to action against such behaviours during flight operations.

Following multiple incidents of unruly behaviour by passengers onboard flights, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued an advisory to all airlines asking them to action against such behaviours during flight operations. The advisory comes in the wake of a London-bound Air India flight returning to Delhi airport following a mid-air brawl in which a passenger caused "physical harm" to cabin crew members. The advisory also cited several other incidents that have happened in the recent past. The advisory defined responsibilities of the pilots, cabin crews and director-in-flight services. 

"In the recent past, DGCA has noticed a few incidents of smoking in aircraft. consumption of alcoholic beverages resulting in unruly behaviour, altercations between passengers and sometimes inappropriate touching or sexual harassment by the passengers on board the aircraft during the flight, wherein post holders, pilots and Cabin Crew members have failed to take appropriate actions. Such incidents have the potential of compromising the safety of aircraft operations," read the advisory.

"The individual's/Airline's responsibility for handling incidents of unruly behaviour including smoking in aircraft, consumption of alcoholic beverages resulting in unruly behaviour, altercations between passengers and incidents of inappropriate touching or sexual harassment by the passengers on board the aircraft during the flight have been specified under various provisions of the Aircraft Rules 1937, DGCA regulations. circulars and manuals of Airlines approved/ accepted by DCGA," it read. The DGCA advised airlines to sensitise their pilots, cabin crew and post-holders on handling unruly passengers.

"Heads of operations of all Airlines are hereby advised to sensitize their pilots, Cabin Crew and post holders on the handling of unruly passengers through appropriate means including but not limited to training programmes for ensuring effective monitoring, maintenance of good order and discipline on board the aircraft safety of aircraft operations is not jeopardized in any manner," it read.

Earlier, on Monday, an Air India London bound flight returned to Delhi shortly after departure on Monday due to the serious unruly behaviour of a passenger on board. The flight returned shortly after the take-off. The passenger was not heeding to verbal and written warnings and continued behaving unruly. The flight AI 111 was scheduled to operate Delhi-London Heathrow on April 10, 2023, the airline said.

The pilot in command decided to return to Delhi and the passenger was handed over to the security personnel upon landing. An FIR has also been lodged with the police. Not heeding to verbal and written warnings, the passenger continued with unruly behaviour including causing physical harm to two of the cabin crew members.

Air India issued a statement over the incident and stated, "safety, security and dignity of all on board is important to us at Air India. We are providing all possible support to the affected crew members. We regret the inconvenience caused to the passengers and have rescheduled the flight to depart for London this afternoon."

After the plane landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport, Air India filed a police complaint about the passenger's "indecent behaviour" at the police station. Legal action is being taken against the said passenger. The airline said it has also informed the aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) about the incident.