Airlines may impose flying ban on disruptive passengers

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This representation  is utilized  for representational purposes only.

This representation is utilized for representational purposes only. | Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

Airline operators whitethorn soon beryllium empowered to straight enforce a flying prohibition of up to 30 days connected unruly oregon disruptive passengers without referring the substance to the competent authority.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has projected amendments to the Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) provisions governing the handling of unruly oregon disruptive passengers connected committee aircraft.

Flying prohibition for 30 days

Under the projected revision, airlines would beryllium authorised to enforce a flying prohibition not exceeding 30 days connected passengers recovered blameworthy of disruptive behaviour during a flight. Such enactment would not necessitate anterior referral to the existing autarkic committee mechanism.

The DGCA said the explanation of disruptive acts included smoking connected board, depletion of intoxicant connected home flights, tampering with exigency exits, unauthorised usage of life-saving instrumentality specified arsenic beingness jackets, engaging successful protests oregon sloganeering, and unruly behaviour arising from intoxication.

Additionally, screaming, causing annoyance to chap passengers, and kicking oregon banging spot backs oregon tray tables person besides been categorised arsenic disruptive behaviour.

Airlines would beryllium required to support a database of specified passengers and pass the DGCA astir immoderate flying prohibition imposed. However, passengers banned nether this proviso would not beryllium included successful the regulator’s authoritative “No Fly List”.

The aviation regulator has invited comments from stakeholders connected the projected amendments issued nether Rule 133A of the Aircraft Rules, 1937.

Under the existing framework, unruly behaviour connected committee is classified arsenic a punishable offence. Currently, airlines indispensable notation cases of disruptive behaviour to an autarkic committee headed by a retired District and Sessions Judge. The committee is required to analyse the substance and springiness its determination wrong 45 days earlier a flying prohibition tin beryllium enforced.

The projected revision seeks to streamline the process, enabling airlines to enactment swiftly successful the involvement of rider safety. Although incidents of unruly behaviour correspond lone a tiny fraction of full aerial travel, the DGCA has emphasised that adjacent a azygous disruptive rider tin jeopardise information connected committee and adversely impact formation operations.

Airlines presently travel a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for handling specified incidents and reporting them to the regulator.

Published - February 18, 2026 12:03 p.m. IST

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