Drunk male passenger urinates on woman onboard NY-Delhi Air India flight, DCGA seeks report

Aviation regulator DGCA has sought a report from Air India in connection with the incident wherein a male passenger onboard a flight from New York to Delhi urinated on a co-passenger.

The incident reportedly happened in November and the man, who exposed himself, went off scot-free on arrival at Delhi airport.

Though the co-passenger, a woman in her 70s, alerted the cabin crew, they did not apprehend the man, reported sources.

The airlines initiated an investigation only after the woman wrote to N Chandrasekaran, chairman, Tata Group, about the harrowing incident.

According to the woman, the incident occurred on November 26, onboard the Air India flight which departed New York-JFK airport around 1 pm.

The woman alleged that the man continued to stand there and moved only after one of her co-passengers asked him to leave.

By then, the woman's clothes, shoes and seat were soaked in urine. After she notified the cabin crew, the stewardess sprayed disinfectant on her bag and shoes.

Though the crew gave her a pair of disposable slippers and pyjamas, she had to wait near the toilet for 20 minutes.

Following this, she was given the narrow crew seat, where she sat for an hour and was told to return to her seat.

Two hours later, she was given another crew seat where she sat for the remainder of the flight. The woman alleged that though there were several first-class seats available, "the crew did not feel that taking care of a distressed passenger was a priority."

Though the crew informed her that she would be given a wheel chair, it deposited her in the waiting area, and she had to clear customs on my own and collect the luggage by herself while wearing the Air India pyjamas and shoes.

Air India said it reported the incident to the police and the regulatory authorities.

An airline official also added it has set up an internal committee to look into the incident and take appropriate action.