DGCA Issues Advisory Regard Unruly Behavior on Flights

NEW DELHI: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has released an advisory reiterating the actions that can be taken by the airlines, pilots, cabin crew and other officials to curb the menace of unruly passengers aboard airlines.

The advisory mentioned that the Pilot in Command is responsible for the safety of everyone on board as well as ensuring that discipline is maintained. He or she has to access, “the situation quickly if cabin crew can control the situation and accordingly relay this information to the airline’s central control on the ground for further action.”

Post landing at the destination, a representative of the airline will lodge an FIR with the concerned authority regarding any unruly passengers. The cabin crew will try to "defuse a critical situation until it becomes clear there is no way to resolve it through verbal communication and written notice to passengers. Restraining devices should be used when all conciliatory approaches have been exhausted.”

Unruly behaviour onboard flights include several actions including smoking onboard an aircraft, misbehaviour after consumption of alcohol or narcotics, not obeying instructions from the pilot in command, using abusive or threatening language and “intentionally interfering with the performance of duties of a crew member.”

The advisory from DGCA divides unruly behaviour into three categories. Level 1 is for unruly behaviour like physical gestures, verbal harassment and unruly inebriation. Level 2 is for physically abusive behaviour meaning pushing, kicking, hitting, inappropriate touching or sexual harassment. Level 3 comprises life-threatening behaviour including physical violence, damaging the aircraft operating system and actual breach of the flight crew compartment.

The duration of being on the no-fly list will depend on the severity of the behaviour and the director in flight (safety services) will have to report any such incident in a prescribed format.

“Head of operations of all airlines are hereby advised to sensitise their pilots, cabin crew and post holders on the handling of unruly passengers through appropriate means including but not limited to a training programme for ensuring monitoring, maintenance of good order and discipline on board (so that) safety of aircraft operations is not jeopardised in any manner,” mentioned the advisory.

Also Read: Air India’s Flight Turned Back as Passenger Manhandles Crew Members

Also Watch: