Paris-New Delhi flight incident: DGCA slaps Rs. 10 lakh penalty on Air India

The aviation regulator DGCA imposed a Rs 10 lakh fine on Tuesday on Air India after it failed to report two incidents of disruptive passenger behavior onboard a Paris-New Delhi flight last December.

In connection with disruptive passenger behavior, this is the second enforcement action taken by the watchdog against the airline in less than a week.

Tuesday’s statement by DGCA stated that the passenger misbehaviour incidents occurred on the AI-142 flight between Paris and New Delhi on December 6, 2022. The regulator was only alerted to it in the last month.

It said that one drunk passenger was caught smoking in a lavatory and didn’t follow crew instructions. Another passenger allegedly took a seat on the blanket of a female passenger and relieved herself there.

Air India was cited as having received a Rs 10,00,000. financial penalty for failing to report the incident to DGCA, and delaying in referring it to its Internal Committee. This is a violation to applicable DGCA Civil Aviation Requirements.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation issued a show-cause notice to Air India’s responsible manager earlier in the month. It explained why they should not be subject to enforcement actions for non-compliance with their regulatory obligations.

On January 23, the airline responded to the show cause. After reviewing the response, the DGCA decided to impose a financial penalty.

The penalty for Air India was Rs 30 lakh and the suspension of the license of the New York-Delhi pilot-in-command who allegedly urinated upon a female passenger on the flight. This occurred on January 20.

The incident occurred on November 26, 2022. Air India’s Director for in-flight services was also fined Rs 3 lakh by the watchdog.