Air India passenger on Mumbai-Delhi flight arrested for urinating and defecating onboard, granted bail

In a repulsive incident that took place on June 24 onboard an Air India flight from Mumbai to New Delhi, a passenger spat, urinated and defecated inside the plane. The act resulted in his arrest upon arrival at New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. A couple of days later, on June 26, the arrested accused was given bail.

The act has left authorities and fellow passengers stunned, reported ANI on Monday, June 26.

What happened

• As the Air India 866 took off from Mumbai, a passenger, identified as Ram Singh, who was seated in 17F, defecated, urinated and spat on seat 9D, 9E, and 9F.
• The flight attendants observed the misbehaviour and promptly issues an oral caution to the alleged drunk passenger through the cabin manager.
• The pilot was immediately notified by the crew, and the airline authorities were notified, requesting the presence of airport security upon the flight's arrival at IGI.

Understandably, Singh's actions caused anger and distress among fellow passengers.

FIR registered, accused arrested

• Upon reaching Delhi airport, the head of Air India's security intervened and accompanied the accused to the IGI Airport police station, where an FIR was registered based on the pilot's complaint.
• According to ANI, the police investigation revealed that the 40-year-old accused passenger is employed as a cook somewhere in Africa. 
• A senior Delhi Police officer confirmed that a case was registered under IPC sections 294 (obscene acts) and 510 (misconduct in public by a drunken person)  based on the captain's complaint.

Surprisingly, the accused was issued bail two days after the incident after he was produced in the court by the police, but the investigation on the same is underway said the Delhi Police to the news agency ANI.

Air India spokesperson, in a statement, said, “A passenger on our flight AI866 operating Mumbai-Delhi on June 24 behaved in a repulsive manner, causing discomfort to the co-passengers. In doing their best to manage the situation in the circumstances, the crew immediately secluded the passenger for the rest of the flight and issued a warning. The passenger was handed over to the security personnel upon landing in Delhi. A police complaint (FIR) was registered subsequently, as was the matter reported to the regulator. Air India follows a zero-tolerance policy for such unruly and unacceptable behaviour. We are extending all cooperation to the ongoing investigations.”

In-flight urination cases

• Earlier this year (March 2023), a 20-year-old Indian student urinated on a male passenger in an inebriated state in the business class on an American Airlines flight from New York to New Delhi.
• Another incident from December 6, 2022, surfaced, where a male passenger on Air India flight 142 to Paris to Delhi, under the influence of alcohol peed on a blanket of an onboard lady passenger.
• An incident from November 26, 2022, on an Air India flight (AI 102) from New York to Delhi where a drunk male passenger peed on a female passenger, a senior citizen, in business class.