Air India said on Tuesday it had changed its in-flight alcohol distribution policy after the so-called “pipigate” scandal, which cost it at least $37,000 in fines and a bad image.
The incident dates back to November 26, when a drunken US bank senior executive was accused of urinating on a 72-year-old woman sitting in business class on a flight from New York to New Delhi.
Known as “pipigate” by local media, the airline has been criticized for allowing the banker, an Indian citizen Shankar Mishra, to disembark normally when the plane landed, and for its handling of the passenger complaint.
“Since then, we have revised our in-flight alcohol distribution policy, drawing inspiration from the practices of other airlines and the rules set by the American Restaurant Association,” Air India said in a statement.
suspended pilot
Staff will now be trained to detect suspicious behavior, added the airline, which was privatized last year.
Air India also defended itself in the press release, saying that “in the opinion of the crew, the alleged perpetrator did not at any time pose a risk to the safety of the flight.” The airline, however, acknowledged that it did not report the incident, as required by India’s aviation regulator.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation of India (DGCA) last week fined Air India three million rupees ($37,000) and the inflight duty manager was fined another 300,000 rupees.
The pilot’s license for the flight was also suspended for three months for “failing to comply with their obligations” and for not having ensured safety and order in their aircraft.
The airline has since called the penalty “excessive” and vowed to help its staff appeal.
The DGCA on Tuesday imposed an additional Rs 1 crore fine on the airline for failing to report two more incidents of unruly behavior by passengers on a flight from Paris to New Delhi on December 6.
An allegedly intoxicated passenger was found smoking in the lavatory while another relieved himself on another passenger’s vacant seat and blanket, the regulator said.
Source: BFM TV
