Airlines must curb unruly behaviour in skies: DGCA

Captain responsible for flight operation, discipline; FIR mandatory in unruly incidents

- Anu Sharma

Recent mid-air incidents of unruly behaviour by passengers and inappropriate action by airlines have tarnished the image of the aviation sector, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said on Friday as it issued an advisory to airlines to prevent such incidents in the future.

The advisory came even as a man identified as Wells Fargo executive Shankar Mishra remained absconding after allegedly urinating on a co-passenger on an Air India flight from New York to New Delhi in November.

He was sacked by Wells Fargo on Friday.

The regulator said all post-holders, pilots and cabin crew have either failed to act or have taken inappropriate action in the recent incidents.

In the advisory, DGCA said the captain, or the pilot in command of the aircraft, has to be responsible for the safety of all passengers, crew and cargo, and for maintaining flight discipline, as well as for the operation and safety of the aircraft during a flight.