The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) penalized an airline for an incident in which a passenger named Shankar Mishra allegedly urinated on an elderly female co-passenger in November last year. The pilot-in-command of the New York-bound flight had their license suspended, and the Director of in-flight services of Air India was fined 3 lakh for failing to fulfill their duties. This is the first time that DGCA has taken action against an airline for unruly passenger behavior on a flight. An Air India spokesperson stated that the company is reviewing the DGCA order and addressing gaps in their reporting. The airline is also working to improve crew awareness and compliance with policies on handling incidents with unruly passengers.

The DGCA issued showcause notices to Air India's Accountable Manager, Director in-flight services, and all the pilots and cabin crew members of the flight for neglecting their regulatory obligations. The ban on Mishra from flying for four months, implemented by the airline on December 20, is in addition to the DGCA's four-month ban starting from January 18. The Internal Committee report concluded that Mishra's actions fall under the definition of 'unruly passenger' and banned him from flying for four months in accordance with Civil Aviation Requirements. Air India has shared the report with DGCA and will inform other airlines operating in the country.

Mishra's legal team is appealing the ban according to DGCA CAR for Unruly Passengers, disagreeing with the committee's findings. They claimed that Air India's report was 'faulty' and made up details about the incident. The lawyers argued that the committee's assumption about the seating arrangement was erroneous, as there was no seat 9B in the business class on the aircraft.

Mishra's lawyer defended him, stating that the police investigation was flawed and the accusations against Mishra were false. They argued that it was impossible for Mishra to have committed the act based on the seating pattern and the nature of the incident. Despite this, Mishra is currently under judicial custody, and a Delhi court denied him bail, calling the act 'utterly disgusting and repulsive'.

The court emphasized that the act was sufficient to outrage the modesty of any woman and reflected the accused's intention. The prosecution opposed the bail application, citing concerns about the accused's wealth and influence potentially hindering the investigation if released. The DGCA only became aware of the Air India incident on January 4, and the latest actions are for violations of various norms.

Air India first became aware of the issue on November 30 and began corresponding with the affected passenger's family. The Delhi Police arrested Shankar Mishra from Bengaluru on January 6, 2023, after the woman filed a complaint. The police charged him under sections 354, 509, and 510 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 23 of the Indian Aircraft Act. Upon learning of the incident, Wells Fargo terminated Mishra's employment as Vice-President.