Airlines back AI: Why doesn't govt make a no-fly list for troublemakers?

Executives say weak regulations embolden habitual offenders

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Airline executives in unison demanded a no-fly list on the lines of those in other countries so that habitual offenders could be debarred from boarding aircraft.

In a rare show of strength, private airlines decided they would refuse to fly Shiv Sena parliamentarian Ravindra Gaikwad for allegedly assaulting an Air India employee on Thursday.

“Air India and FIA member airlines have decided to ban this Member of Parliament from flying on all our flights with immediate effect,” a statement from the Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA) said. The FIA is a lobby group of private airlines IndiGo, SpiceJet, GoAir and Jet Airways.

The airlines also demanded exemplary action against the accused MP for assaulting the employee. Air India Chairman Ashwani Lohani stated full support for the 60-year-old employee.

“Passengers displaying disturbing and abusive behavior get away with it. We have raised the issue with the ministry and the DGCA several times but with little effect,” said an executive with a private airline. 

Vistara and AirAsia also joined the ban. "We support the statement made by Air India and the FIA, and are in full solidarity with them in support of the ban. The concerned individual will be barred from flying on any of our flights with immediate effect," a Vistara spokesperson said.

The Delhi Police has registered an FIR against Gaikwad for assaulting the Air India staffer and transferred the case to its crime branch. 

According to data provided by the government, there have been 53 such incidents reported by the airlines since last July.

Jayant Sinha, minister of state for civil aviation, in a statement in the Lok Sabha on March 9 denied the government had any plans for a no-fly list. Rajiv Nayan Choubey, civil aviation secretary, today said the government was examining whether such a list could be drawn up.

“We are examining all sides, the passenger should have legal recourse if he feels he has wrongly been put on the list,” Choubey said.

“We support a no-fly list,” said Aditya Ghosh, president of IndiGo, the country’s largest airline. “The government needs to act on this soon. Unruly flyers are a safety hazard for not just the crew but even the travelling public. An attack on our crew and employee is an attack on us and we condemn this,” said SpiceJet CEO Ajay Singh.

“It is impossible to identify a habitual offender and put him on a blacklist if we do not have proper details. Just like a passport is mandatory for booking international tickets, Aadhar should be made compulsory for domestic bookings,” said an executive with a private airline.

Aviation regulators in the West allow airlines to have their own lists of passengers banned for disruptive behavior. “The UK does not maintain a no-fly list. Each airline will have its own list, but at the moment these lists are not coordinated,” said Richard Taylor, spokesperson for the UK Civil Aviation Authority.

Following the 9/11 attacks, the US implemented a no-fly list according to which people whose names figure on it are not permitted to board an aircraft in and out of the country.

“Indian airlines can deny a person from flying throughout the country on the grounds of being a security threat to the crew as well as other passengers,” said Nitin Sarin, managing partner, Sarin & Co.

Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) Section 3 - Series M Part VI lays down the law for dealing with unruly passengers.

“No unruly behavior can be tolerated on board aircraft. A perpetrator may face criminal proceedings initiated either by the police or by the airline or by the staff,” said Lalit Bhasin, managing partner, Bhasin & Co.