Unruly behaviour by flyers will attract ban

New Delhi: With the Ravindra Gaikwad case acting as a trigger, the government on Friday announced draft amendments in existing rules to tackle unruly or disruptive passengers on board Indian domestic carriers and to form a “national no-fly list” for air-safety based on three levels of misbehaviour and correspondingly escalating penalties which are proposals as of now.

The first level — categorised as “disruptive behaviour” — refers to physical gestures, verbal harassment and unruly behaviour on account of inebriation and is punishable by a ban on flying for three months. The second (higher) level of misbehaviour pertains to “physically abusive behaviour" including “kicking, pushing, hitting, grabbing inappropriate touching and sexual harassment” which is punishable by a ban on flying for six months. The third (and highest) level pertains to “life-threatening behaviour including damage to aircraft, murderous assault, and breach of cockpit security” which is punishable by a ban on flying for two years or more. A two-stage process to determine violations and an appeal process is also put in place.

But eyebrows are being raised on a rather curious move to give the other domestic airlines (other than the one on whose flight the concerned incident of misbehaviour took place) the option of either banning the same passenger too or allowing him or her to fly. Repeat offenders will attract twice the quantum of punishment.