Gaikwad effect: AI will fine unruly flyers up to ₹15 lakh

SENA MP GAIKWAD HAD ASSAULTED AN AI MANAGER, CAUSING FLIGHT DELAY OF OVER 90 MINS

NEW DELHI: Passengers delaying flights beyond two hours in an air rage could be fined ~15 lakh, says national carrier Air India’s proposed set of standard operating procedures to tackle unruly flyers.

The draft SOPs detail steps for the crew and ground staff in the event of ugly incidents such as two recent controversies involving parliamentarians Ravindra Gaikwad of the Shiv Sena and Trinamool Congress’s Dola Sen.

Gaikwad was banned from flying by six airlines after he assaulted a senior Air India official with his slippers, allegedly angry over the state-run carrier shifting him from business class to economy on a Pune-New Delhi flight this March. But his name was struck off the “no-fly” list 10 days ago after political intervention.

Air India says the Gaikwad incident caused a flight delay of 90 minutes. Similarly, Trinamool’s Sen had an argument with the cabin crew and delayed the flight for 39 minutes.

The proposal lists six steps to tackle similar situations, including informing the airport manager, no direct interaction with media, immediate filing of police complaint, assessment of damage, and fining a misbehaving flyer in accordance with the amount of delay.

If a rowdy passenger causes a delay of up to an hour, he will have to pay a penalty of ~5 lakh. For delays between one and two hours, the fine is ~10 lakh; and ~15 lakh for beyond two hours.

The airline says such incidents should be prevented as these affect the crew’s morale.