‘Unruly’ Passengers Barred From Flying For Three Months To Over Two Years

Unruly air travellers will be banned from flying for a period ranging from three months to lifetime, the government announced on Friday. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has recommended three levels of unruly behaviour by passengers, each with a different duration of ban on flying, the ministry officials said.

• The first level of misdemeanour is verbal harassment and will invite a flying ban of three months.
• The second level comprises physically abusive behaviour which will carry a ban of six months.
• The third category consists of life threatening behaviour and will carry a flying ban of two years or more without limit.

The move comes in the wake of a few incidents, including one involving Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad who allegedly hit an Air India staffer with a slipper for not getting a business class seat. Gaikwad had a business class ticket but he had to travel the economy class because the flight was an all-economy one.

According to the mechanism laid down by the ministry, after the pilot-in-command of a plane complains about a passenger, the airline’s internal committee will probe the matter and decide the quantum of ban within 30 days.

If the committee fails to give a decision within this period the passenger will be free to fly.