Guwahati: Air India was fined Rs. 10 lakh by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for failing to report cases of passenger misbehaviour to the oversight agency and for taking too long to bring the issue to its Internal Committee.
The problem violates relevant DGCA Civil Aviation Requirements, according to the aviation organisation.
In a statement, the DGCA said that action was taken in response to a passenger misbehaviour incident that happened on flight AI-142 from Paris to New Delhi on December 6, 2022. One passenger was found smoking in the restroom, was intoxicated and disobeying crew instructions, and another passenger allegedly relieved himself on a female passenger’s empty seat and blanket when she went to the restroom.
“Enforcement action in the form of a financial penalty of Rs 10,00,000 has been imposed on Air India for not reporting the incident to DGCA and delaying in referring the matter to its Internal Committee, which is a violation of applicable DGCA Civil Aviation Requirements,” the statement said.
The Accountable Manager of Air India had received a show-cause notice from the DGCA asking them to justify why enforcement action against them for breaching regulatory requirements should not be initiated.
On January 23, Air India submitted a response to the show cause notice, which was then reviewed.
The watchdog has taken enforcement action against the airline in relation with disorderly passenger behaviour twice in less than a week.