Air India pilot and crew members grounded over defecation issue

Four cabin crew members and one of the two pilots from the controversial Air India aircraft when Mumbai man Shankar Mishra urinated on an elderly woman while intoxicated have been grounded and given show cause notices, according to an official statement.

Air India grounds and issues show cause notices to four cabin crew members, and one of two pilots

Air India, Managing Director & CEO stated that internal investigations into lapses by other staff are going on and this will cover following service aspects i.e. alcohol on flight, incident handling, complaint registration on board and grievance handling.

The managing director and CEO of Air India announced that internal investigations into lapses made by staff on board the flight are ongoing. These investigations will cover the following service facets, including alcohol consumption during flights, incident management, complaint filing on board, and grievance handling.

According to ANI, Air India CEO MD Campbell Wilson has stated that “In the instance of the incident onboard AI102 operating between New York and Delhi on 26 Nov 2022 , four cabin crew and one pilot have been issued show cause notices and de-rostered pending investigation”.

Air India says it “regrets and is pained about” these experience and acknowledges that situation could have been handled better “both in the Air and on the ground”

The airline expressed its "regret and grief" over these incidents and said that it should have managed the issue more effectively "both in the air and on the ground." The airline's handling of the situation shocked and infuriated the 71-year-old complainant.

Also Read: Air India CEO Campbell instructs staff to report any disruptive behavior

Air India starts “comprehensive education program”

The airline announced that it has begun a "comprehensive education programme" to improve crews' knowledge of and adherence to policies on the handling of incidents and disruptive passengers, as well as to better prepare crew "to empathetically assist" those affected. This is done in an effort to prevent future occurrences of these types of incidents.

According to the statement, it will also review the airline's alcohol-in-flight policy.

Regarding support for the victim, Air India stated that it "continues to provide support" to the impacted travellers and assure their safety.

Air India said that after receiving the complaint on November 27, it acknowledged receipt and began communicating with the affected passenger's family on November 30. The airline also said that it started the ticket refund process on December 2 and that the victim's family confirmed receipt of the funds on December 16.

Also Read: Air India CEO Campbell instructs staff to report any disruptive behavior

Initiates DGCA prescribed “Internal Committee” tasked with assessing incidents

A retired judge, a representative from a passengers association, and a representation from another Indian commercial airline make up the DGCA-mandated "Internal Committee," which was established by Air India on December 10, 2022. On December 20, the case was forwarded to the Committee, and on the same day, an interim travel ban of 30 days was put into effect.

On December 20, 21, 26, and 30, 2022, the airline said it held four meetings with the victim, her family, and top airline officials to review the steps being taken and their progress. However, during the meeting on December 26 the family requested that Air India submit a police complaint, which was done on December 28.

Delhi Police arrest Shankar Mishra

Both pilots arrived at Delhi's IGI airport police station earlier today to be questioned. According to sources, Shankar Mishra was detained by the Delhi police late on Friday night after being deported from Bengaluru. A watch notice or airports alert was issued to try to find him because he was running away.

He is accused of urinating on an elderly passenger in business class on a November 26 Air India trip from New York to Delhi after allegedly unzipping his pants. Later, he begged the woman not to call the police and say something about him since it would affect his wife and child.

Air India only made a police report this week, claiming that the crew decided not to call for help when they landed because there had been "no additional altercation or argument" and they were "following the presumed preferences of the female passenger." Mishra was prohibited from flying for 30 days, which outraged social media users who claimed it was insufficient.

Also Read: Wells Fargo fires man who urinated on Air India flight

Keep watching our YouTube Channel ‘DNP INDIA’. Also, please subscribe and follow us on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and TWITTER