Staff must file complaint: Air India

New Delhi: Air India is planning to impose steep fines of upto Rs 15 lakh on unruly passengers who delay flights.

Among the cases cited by AI, two occurred in the past month, including the case of Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad, who allegedly hit an Air India employee last month after a flight. He was banned from flying Air India but the airline later lifted the ban on the government’s “advice”.

Another reported incident of a YSR Congress MP, P.V. Mithun Reddy, allegedly assaulting an airline official at Tirupati in November 2015 has also been referred to. The recent case of a woman Trinamul MP who allegedly delayed a flight after an argument with airline staff on board was also mentioned.

The proposal states the fines for delaying flights were “symbolic” and “not on actuals”. The airline’s employees have also been told that any incident of a passenger resorting to unruly behaviour must be intimated to the airport manager’s office and the Air India CMD’s office. A police complaint or FIR must also be filed, with “property damage to be assessed and claimed”.

The move comes even as the government is planning to come out with a ‘no-fly list’.