‘Offload passengers for violating Covid norms’

NEW DELHI: Airlines are free to take action and put passengers on the no flyers list if they do not wear masks despite warnings, a Delhi high court judge has said after taking a suo motu (on his own) cognisance of improper mask use and violations of social distancing norms on an Air India flight from Kolkata on March 5.

“In the event of any passenger being unwilling to follow this protocol prior to the flight taking off, the passenger should be offloaded without delay. If a passenger, despite being reminded more than once in flight, refuses to follow this protocol, action should be taken against the passenger in accordance with the guidelines issued by the DGCA [Directorate General of Civil Aviation] or ministry of health and family welfare, including placing the passenger on a ‘no-fly’ regimen, either permanently or for a stipulated, sufficiently long, period,” justice Hari Shankar said.

He cited “the stubbornness of the fellow passengers in wearing masks below their chins” on the flight.

The court asked the DGCA to put up on its website the guidelines and protocols for the passengers and cabin crew. It directed all airlines to ensure written instructions regarding the protocol to be followed be given to passengers along with the boarding passes. The court added the instructions should include the measures that could be taken against passengers in case of violations of the protocol. It said the passengers should be sensitised regarding their responsibility.

Justice Shankar said the in-flight crew shall carry out periodical checks of the aircraft to ensure all passengers are complying with the protocol, especially regarding masks.