New Delhi

The Supreme Court on Tuesday urged authorities to revisit and potentially revise guidelines for handling unruly passengers in alignment with international standards. A bench of Justice BR Gavai and Justice KV Viswanathan emphasized the need for innovative solutions, citing a personal experience where Justice Viswanathan encountered drunk passengers on a flight.

The court asked Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, representing the Centre, to instruct the relevant authorities to review and adjust the existing protocols on unruly behavior to meet international norms. The matter was scheduled for further hearing in eight weeks.

The case stems from an incident on an Air India flight in 2022, where a 72-year-old woman was allegedly urinated on by an intoxicated passenger. She has sought the Supreme Court’s intervention to direct the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and airlines to implement zero-tolerance policies and clear guidelines for handling disruptive passengers.

Her petition calls for the DGCA to amend the Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) to classify drunkenness as unruly behavior, mandate reporting incidents to law enforcement, and ensure airlines adhere to these standards. It also requests specific alcohol policies for international flights and better protection and compensation for victims of abuse.

The incident, involving accused Shankar Mishra, led to his arrest and later bail, but the woman continues to suffer emotional trauma, further compounded by the airline’s mishandling of the situation.