The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Friday has imposed a fine of Rs 30 lakh on Air India and suspended the license of pilot-in-command for 3 months in connection with the urination case.
The civil aviation regulator, further, imposed a penalty of Rs 3 lakh on Director-in-flight services of Air India for failing to discharge her duties on November 26 last year. The development came a day after the airline banned the accused Shankar Mishra for 4 months on the basis of a report by the internal committee.
According to a senior DGCA official, the incident of passenger’s misbehavior on the AI-102 flight from New York to New Delhi on November 26 last year, came to the notice of the DGCA on January 4 this year, wherein a male passenger conducted himself in a disorderly manner and allegedly relieved himself on a female passenger.
The DGCA issued show-cause notices to the Air India Accountable Manager, Director in-flight Services of Air India, all the pilots and cabin crew members of the flight as to why enforcement action should not be taken against them for dereliction of their regulatory obligations. The written replies were examined.
Accordingly, enforcement actions have been taken in the instant case. “Financial Penalty of Rs 30,00,000 has been imposed on Air India for violation of applicable DGCA Civil Aviation Requirements. License of Pilot-In-Command of the said flight has been suspended for a period of 3 months for failing to discharge his duties as per Rule 141 of the Aircraft Rules, 1937 and applicable DGCA Civil Aviation Requirements.
Financial Penalty of Rs 3,00,000 has been imposed on Director-in-flight services of Air India for failing to discharge her duties as per applicable DGCA Civil Aviation Requirements,” said the regulator on Friday.
On Thursday, the independent 3-member Internal Committee under the Chairmanship of the former District Judge concluded that Shankar Mishra is covered under the definition of “unruly passenger” and is banned from flying for a period of 4 months as per the relevant provisions of the Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR).”
The airline also said that it will inform the regulator and other airlines accordingly. “The passenger has already been put on the airline’s “No Fly List”. The Air India has shared a copy of the Internal Committee report with the DGCA and will also be intimidating other airlines operating in the country,”
Currently, the case is pending before the Court and it has witnessed many twists in the last couple of days. Shankar Mishra was arrested from Bengaluru and brought to Delhi, where the case against him was registered.