Urination Fiasco: Air India Fined Rs 30 Lakh; Pilot Grounded For 3 Months

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has fined Air India Rs 30 lakh for violating rules while handling an unruly incident on its New York-Delhi flight on November 26, when ex-Wells Fargo vice-president Shankar Mishra allegedly urinated on a female co-passenger.

A DGCA official told Business Standard that it is “one of the highest fines” ever imposed on an airline for violating rules.

In a statement, the regulator on Friday said it has also suspended the pilot-in-command of the flight (AI-102) for three months, and imposed a fine of Rs 3 lakh on the airline’s director of in-flight services for their failure to discharge duties.

No action has been taken against the cabin crew as there was no error on their part, it has been learnt.

“A financial penalty of Rs 30 lakh has been imposed to Air India for violation of applicable DGCA civil aviation requirements (rules),” it added.

The DGCA’s action followed show-cause notices issued on January 5 to the airline’s director of in-flight services, accountable manager, pilots, and cabin crew members of the flight. The airline did not inform the regulator about the incident until January 4.

The regulator had slammed the airline for its unprofessional approach leading to a systemic failure. Prime facie, the airline lacks appreciation of regulatory obligations as described in applicable rules, it said.

Following the DGCA’s action on Friday, an Air India spokesperson said: “We are in receipt of today’s order of the DGCA and are studying the same. We respectfully acknowledge the gaps in our reporting and are taking relevant steps to ensure that the same are addressed.”

The airline is strengthening its crews' awareness of and compliance with policies on the handling of incidents involving unruly passengers, the spokesperson noted, adding, “Air India is committed to stand by the safety and well-being of our passengers.”

Air India on Thursday imposed a four-month ban on Mishra, who has denied the charges.

The ban was imposed following a decision of a three-member internal committee, which ruled that Mishra's action amounted to unruly behaviour.

Mishra is currently in jail and his case is being heard at the Delhi High Court.

The civil aviation regulator on January 9 issued a separate show-cause notice to the airline for a second urination incident that took place on the airline’s Paris-Delhi flight on December 6 when a male passenger urinated on a vacant seat and the blanket of a female co-passenger. It is yet to take action against Air India regarding the second urination incident.

• The Aircraft Rules, 1937, give the DGCA powers to impose fines and penalties for violations. These range from Rs 10,000-Rs 1 crore. Regarding the urination incident, a Rs 30-lakh fine was imposed; it is the maximum penalty that can be imposed on airlines for violations of the DGCA’s civil aviation requirements
• In 2022, the aviation regulator levied financial penalties in 39 cases, amounting to Rs 1.9 crore on various airlines, non-scheduled operators, and flying training schools
• Some of these cases were: IndiGo wrongfully offloading a differently abled person; Air India not paying compensation to passengers against denial of boarding; SpiceJet using a simulator with an unserviceable warning system for pilots; Vistara’s non-compliance with route dispersal guidelines