Time to stop serving liquor onboard

Two back to back incidents onboard in flights that are coming to India from New York and Bangkok respectively have shaken anyone and everyone. They cannot be put under the carpet. The culprits must be given exemplary punishments that go a long away in ensuring safe air travels. In the first incident, a Mumbai based businessman S Mishra boarded a New York to Delhi Air India flight- business class. After taking enough booze, Mishra went up to a woman passenger and urinated on her in a full view of other passengers. Just spare a thought for the poor lady who had to face such a scary situation. You cannot say that he had urinated under the influence of liquor. No, this is a lame defence. He didn't urinate on any male co-passenger. That proves a point beyond any doubt that he was a sex maniac. And equally shocking is the fact that the crew took no action against Mishra. And did not support the shocked woman. Did you know about the incident, Ratan Tata, chairman emeritus of Tata Group?

The only good thing is that the brave woman pursued the case tooth and nail. And it's now that AI has imposed a measly 30 day flight ban on Mishra. That's too late and too little considering the fact that the incident took place on last 26 November, 2022. Noted writer Seema Mustafa has rightly said- "Flights with Indian men aboard are becoming a security risk. They beat up fellow passengers; they abuse the air stewards and now this. Sheer dirt and filth."

Now the big question: Can't we stop serving liquor in flights? What is so great about it? This very incident should be a wake-up call for all of us. On my recent return flight from Dubai to Delhi, a young passenger just two seats away from me was creating ruckus for more and more liquor. The Air India staff had served him enough, yet he was asking for more to the embarrassment of his family. He was not listening either his family or crew members. Thankfully he didn't urinate on his co passengers. But given his tipsy condition, he could have easily become another Mishra. The authorities concerned must think whether serving liquor to passengers can be discontinued? However, the noted ad professional Preet KS Bedi says that you cannot take such a drastic step because of couple of black sheeps.

And in another incident that also happened recently, an Indian passenger's refusal to straighten his reclined seat before take-off first led to an acrimonious argument with a stewardess on board a taxiing Bangkok-Kolkata flight and then a full-blown assault involving some fellow flyers who decided he should be taught a lesson. A viral video of the December 27 fracas on the Thai Smile Airways flight prompted the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) to institute a suo motu probe and register a case with the airport police station in Kolkata.

Union aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia tweeted, "...Such behaviour is unacceptable." Mr. Scindia, you must take strong actions against such travellers. Tweets are not suffice.

Meanwhile, the airlines said the take-off had been "slightly delayed" as a result and "the incident has been taken care of as we followed the flight safety procedures in accordance with international standards."Since Thai Smile hadn't reported the incident, regulator DGCA and the aviation security bureau both sought a report from the full-service carrier, which currently doesn't have a country head in India."Thai Smile Airways feels sorry for this. Our flight crews have already provided support to the persons affected by the incident," the airline tweeted.

Experts say since the episode took place aboard a foreign airliner and abroad, the scope and jurisdiction of Indian agencies to act against unruly passengers is apparently limited. BCAS's police complaint is against the flyer who started the assault as well as the one who was targeted for not following safety instructions.

It is said that there were passengers seated in 38 A, B and C. When the crew asked him to straighten his seat during take-off, the person in 37C said he had a backache. The crew tried explaining that the seat must be in upright position (for safety reasons). The airline quoted the passenger as telling the crew, "I fly often, I know what to do." The stewardess then told the passenger that if he didn't follow safety rules, the crew would be forced to report him to the pilot. "Ok, tell him. I am not scared," he allegedly said.

Finally, those who travel often know that some passengers refuse to tow the requests of captain of the plane and other crew members. Even when it is announced that "All passengers are requested to take their seats as the weather is rough", these 'problems flyers' keep on moving from one side to another. Only God knows what kind of joy or pleasure they get in flouting the simple instructions. They forget that they are risking the lives of their so many co-passengers. Naturally, all such passengers should be punished. The action can be ban of their air travel from 3-5 years as well as police action. And those passengers who argue with crew for vegetarian and non-vegetarian food should also be warned of. Often, we see many travellers creating a scene for food. It is high time that we take a lead in dealing irresponsible travellers. Let us start some exemplary action against Mishra who urinated on a lady.

(The author is a noted Delhi based author and columnist)