Incidents of passenger misbehavior on Air India flights have recently made headlines, raising concerns about safety and passenger accountability. These incidents range from verbal abuse and physical assault to more extreme forms of misconduct, causing distress and disruption for fellow travelers and crew members alike.

One recent incident involved a passenger on an Air India flight from Delhi to Bangkok who allegedly engaged in inappropriate behavior, causing distress to another passenger. The cabin crew intervened swiftly, offering assistance to the affected passenger and moving the disruptive individual to a different seat. While the impacted passenger declined to file a formal complaint, Air India has launched an internal review of the incident.

In another incident on a Sydney-Delhi flight, a senior Air India official was reportedly abused and assaulted by a passenger after being downgraded from business class. The situation escalated after the official addressed the passenger's loud behavior, leading to a physical altercation. Despite the disruption, the cabin crew allegedly did not use restraining devices. Upon arrival in Delhi, the passenger was handed over to security and issued a written apology. Air India has notified the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and is considering legal action.

Adding to the list, a male passenger on an Air India flight from Toronto to New Delhi was restrained after behaving disruptively and physically abusing the flight staff and other passengers. The passenger, who had changed his seat, was found with a cigarette lighter in the lavatory after a smoke alarm was triggered. It took ten passengers and two crew members to restrain him after he attempted to attack others and damaged the lavatory door.

In June 2023, a passenger on flight AIC 866 was arrested for indecent behavior after allegedly defecating, urinating, and spitting in row 9 of the aircraft. The crew issued a verbal warning and isolated the passenger, and upon landing, the passenger was arrested and later granted bail.

Air India has stated that it takes such incidents seriously and has a zero-tolerance policy for unruly conduct. The airline emphasizes that its crew follows all regulatory procedures, including notifying the captain and issuing warnings to disruptive passengers. Matters are also brought to the attention of the airline's Independent Committee for further evaluation. Aviation authorities are pushing for stricter enforcement of passenger conduct regulations and urging carriers to prioritize the swift and transparent handling of such incidents.

These incidents highlight the challenges airlines face in managing passenger behavior and ensuring the safety and comfort of everyone on board. They also raise questions about the effectiveness of current protocols and the need for enhanced measures to prevent and address such situations.