Mid-Air Pee-Row: Air India Did Not Report Because The Lady..

The traumatic incident of a man peeing on a woman passenger in an Air India flight and the flight crew’s conduct regarding it is described as ‘unprofessional’ and ‘Devoid of Empathy’, by the aviation regulator.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued notice to some officials of the Tata Group owned airline, the pilot of the flight, and the crew asking them to reply within two weeks.

A passenger from Mumbai, Shankar Mishra allegedly unzipped and urinated on an elderly woman on the business class Air India flight to New York JFK to Delhi. Shankar Mishra was allowed to leave without any action taken on him until the woman wrote to the chairman of Air India group N Chandrasekharan. Air India now complained to the police against the man.

DGCA strongly condemned the treatment of Air India crew regarding the incident and wrote, ‘The conduct of the concerned airline appears to be unprofessional and had led to a systemic failure.’

‘Prima facie it lacks appreciation of regulatory obligations as described in applicable Aircraft Rules 1937, Civil Aviation Requirements on ‘Handling of Unruly Passengers’, Cabin Safety Circular, Air India Operations Manual, Air India Safety and Emergency Procedure Manual and Air India Quick Reference Handbook and is devoid of empathy,’ the statement further said.

The manager, director of in-flight services, and all the pilots and cabin crew members of that flight asked them to explain within two weeks. Air India has told the DGCA that the staff didn’t initiate any action against the unruly passenger as the ‘aggrieved lady has rescinded her initial request for action after the two appeared to have sorted out the issue.’