A GoFirst spokesperson said on Sunday that two foreigners were offloaded from a Mumbai-bound GoFirst flight after violating flight safety rules. The incident took place on January 6 when both the passengers passed lewd comments to the crew members. The spokesperson said the duo also harassed fellow passengers. A Jao spokesperson said, “Two foreigners were offloaded from G8-372 Goa-Mumbai flight on January 6 for violating flight safety norms.
Following the incident, the pilot-in-command decided to land him immediately. Both the passengers were handed over to airport security. “The pilot-in-command decided to offload him immediately and handed him over to airport security. The matter was reported to DGCA for further action,” the spokesperson said.
Earlier on January 6, in the wake of incidents of mid-air urination among Air India, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued an advisory to the Heads of Operations of all scheduled airlines regarding handling of unruly passengers on board and related responsibilities . according to the rules. The guidelines come in the wake of two incidents of back-to-back urination on Air India flights last year.
The DGCA said that it has been observed that post holders, pilots and cabin crew members have failed to take appropriate action in respect of incidents of indecent behavior and unbecoming conduct by passengers on board.
In a statement, the DGCA said, “In the recent past, the DGCA has noticed a few incidents of unruly behavior and unruly conduct by passengers on board aircraft during flight wherein it has been observed that post holders, pilots and cabin crew members fail to to take appropriate action.”
The aviation regulatory body further said that the non-action or unwarranted action or omission by the airlines towards such untoward incidents has tarnished the image of air travel in various sectors of the society.
It added that the responsibility of the person to handle unruly passengers is specified under various provisions of the Aircraft Rules, 1937, DGCA rules, circulars and manuals of airlines approved or approved by DGCA.
The DGCA advisory also recommended placement of restraining devices inside aircraft to control unruly passengers. A senior DGCA official said that they recommend equipment placed in the cabin of aircraft to be used to restrain unruly passengers of Level 3 type i.e. abusive physically violent category.
The device resembles handcuffs. Equipment to assist the cabin crew. Some airlines like Air Asia in India are keeping it in aircraft cabins.