Supreme Court Urges Overhaul of Guidelines for Unruly Airline Passengers

The call for stricter measures follows a petition from a 73-year-old woman and a judge's personal account of mid-air chaos involving intoxicated passengers.

The Supreme Court is reviewing a petition filed by a 73-year-old woman who was urinated on by a drunk passenger during a 2022 Air India flight, seeking stronger protocols for handling unruly passengers.
Justice KV Viswanathan recounted his and Justice Surya Kant's recent experience with two drunk passengers on a flight, highlighting lapses in managing disruptive behavior onboard.
The court has directed the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to reassess and potentially revise existing guidelines to align with international standards and address in-flight intoxication issues.
Suggestions discussed include strategic seating arrangements for vulnerable passengers, mandatory reporting of incidents, and stricter alcohol policies for airlines.
The bench emphasized the need for creative solutions to ensure passenger safety and dignity, with the next hearing scheduled in eight weeks.