The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) levied a fine of ₹10 lakh on Air India for its failure to report two incidents on a flight from Paris to Delhi in December, which included a drunk passenger urinating on a seat as well as another smoking inside a lavatory. This is the second financial penalty imposed on the airline in five days.
The penalty has been imposed on Air India “for not reporting the incident to DGCA and delaying in referring the matter to its Internal Committee, which is a violation of applicable DGCA Civil Aviation Requirements,” the DGCA said in a press statement.
On December 6, on an Air India flight from Paris to New Delhi, one passenger was caught smoking in the lavatory. The passenger was also in an inebriated condition and refused to listen to the crew’s instructions. Another passenger allegedly relieved himself on a seat which was vacant because its female occupant had briefly gone to the toilet.
The airline also faces a penalty of ₹30 lakh, which was announced last week for the November 26 urination incident on a New York to Delhi flight. Both the penalties are on account of Air India’s “dereliction of regulatory obligations”.
