247 Indians grounded by airlines for bad behaviour

Most of the passengers were blacklisted in 2023. Representation pic

Airlines across the country have collectively placed 247 passengers on their no-fly lists between 2019 and 2023, according to data from the Union Civil Aviation Ministry. This decision has been praised by experts, highlighting the importance of maintaining discipline among flyers. The highest number of passengers, 108, was added to the list in 2023, mostly for unruly behaviour.

The process of banning individuals from flying involves thorough investigations by airlines and authorities. Reasons for being placed on the no-fly list can vary from disruptive conduct to refusal to follow safety protocols, and sometimes even suspected involvement in illegal activities.

Aviation experts emphasise the delicate balance between ensuring safety and protecting passenger rights. An aviation safety analyst pointed to the origin of rules governing unruly passengers, citing the well-known incident involving Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad in September 2017. Between 2019 and 2022, domestic airlines collectively banned 140 passengers for different durations. Air India notably refrained from imposing any bans under these rules until the "pee-gate" incident in November 2022.

Advocate Yashwant Shenoy, an aviation rights activist said, "The major reason for placing someone on the no-flying list is the unruly behaviour of the passenger towards the airline crew and ground staff along with the security check."

Captain Mohan Ranganathan, said, "Unruly behaviour is at its peak nowadays. Recently an Indigo Airlines pilot was attacked by a passenger in Delhi. It was not the pilot's fault that the flight was delayed but the weather was such that the flight could not take off without a disaster or overshooting the runway."

He added, "Such passengers should be banned across all the airlines, not just one. No one should be discriminated against in this matter as air safety is the topmost. MPs, MLAs and actors behaving rudely with the crew should also be banned from flying."

"Air rage and unruly passengers are a huge problem and airlines need to take them seriously and file charges against obnoxious behaviour," said aviation expert and lawyer Sanjay Lazar. "The legal system must also ensure that passenger rights are balanced and due process is followed" he added.

247
No. of passengers on no-fly list between 2019-23

No. of passengers banned since 2019

2019 0
2020 10
2021 66
2022 63
2023 108

A majority of the occurrences are classified at three levels

Level 1 Verbal abuse, lewd gestures etc.

Level 2 Physically abusive behaviour, sexual harassment etc.

Level 3 Dangerous acts like causing damage to an aircraft, murderous assault etc.

In the year 2023, 108 passengers were banned

Air India 71
Vistara 22
Akasa Air 4
Indigo 1