Centre plans national no-fly list to ground unruly flyers

Unruly/disruptive behaviour will result in severe consequences. This includes police action for a specific incident as well as being placed on a nofly list

NEW DELHI: The government is planning a national “no-fly” list to keep unruly passengers off flights, junior civil aviation minister Jayant Sinha said on Saturday, defending a decision to revoke an air travel ban on controversial Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad.

In a series of tweets, Sinha insisted that investigation into cases lodged against Gaikwad – accused of assaulting an elderly Air India employee on board a flight last month – would continue and that the safety and security of passengers and crew was the government’s priority.

“Air travellers should note that safety and security for passengers and crew is our paramount priority. Unruly/disruptive behaviour will result in severe consequences.

This includes police action for a specific incident as well as being placed on a no-fly list,” the Hazaribagh MP wrote.

Currently, rules only allow airlines to refuse boarding or off-loading of a passenger whose behaviour is deemed as unruly or disruptive to the safety of flight operations.

“MoCA is strengthening rules so that a national no-fly list can be implemented, such incidents can be prevented, and safety improved.”

Air India and five other airlines banned the Osmanabad MP from flying hours after videos of the alleged assault went viral on social media.

The ban was lifted on Friday after the civil aviation ministry intervened, following Gaikwad’s apology to Parliament and letter of “regret” to minister Ashok Gajapati Raju.

Sinha defended the decision that many say lets the MP off the hook without even an actual apology to the victim, 60-year-old Air India employee Sukumar.

“A flying ban is meant to prevent future unruly behaviour, not to punish past behaviour. We now have an undertaking for future behaviour,” he said.