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Business News/ Politics / Policy/  Govt seeks best practices report for no-fly rules for aviation sector
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Govt seeks best practices report for no-fly rules for aviation sector

Based on the best practices report, authorities will update the current regulations on who can ban a passenger from flying, for how long and for what offence

Photo: Hindustan TimesPremium
Photo: Hindustan Times

New Delhi: The civil aviation ministry, together with regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation, has started the process of updating flying regulations for unruly passengers and sought a report on global best practices on the subject.

The move comes in the wake of the controversy over Shiv Sena member of Parliament Ravindra Gaikwad, who thrashed a 60-year-old Air India official in Delhi last week with slippers, prompting Air India to file a first information report against him and ban him from flying. It was joined by IndiGo, SpiceJet, Jet Airways and GoAir.

“Airlines have been asked to give details on what are the best practices globally over unruly passengers, DGCA is also getting in touch with international regulators to understand and prepare a comprehensive report," said a person with knowledge of the subject who did not wish to be named.

While there are regulations for unruly behaviour, this marks the first time that airlines have got together to jointly ban a person from flying.

The ministry feels this is a grey area, according to another official who did not wish to be named.

Based on the best practices report, authorities will update the current regulations on who can ban a passenger from flying, for how long and for what offence.

“Gaikwad should thank the protection he enjoys by being an MP because in other countries he would have been charged with aggravated assault and arrested. He would have been slapped with a healthy fine and maybe even a couple of nights in jail," said New York-based former Jet Airways CEO Steve Forte, adding that though his travel restriction should and will eventually be lifted, it would help if he publicly apologized to the concerned employee.

“With regards to ad hoc incidents, such as Gaikwad’s, the government is in no position to establish guidelines for unruly passengers—because such guidelines would actually be insufficient to encompass all possible behaviour patterns that could threaten flight safety. The choice and final decision must be left to the crew. Their evaluation of the situation as it develops is vastly more accurate and reliable than any government mandated rules could possibly be," he added.

Meanwhile, Gaikwad again booked a ticket on Air India but the airline cancelled it on Tuesday.

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Published: 29 Mar 2017, 02:00 AM IST
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