Air India crew forced to confront the perpetrator: Victim of urinating incident

The middle-aged woman who complained about a male co-passenger urinating on her during an Air India flight in November, was ‘forced to confront the perpetrator’ and ‘negotiate with him’ despite expressing her unwillingness to do so.

As mentioned in the FIR submitted with the Delhi Police, the accused begged her to not lodge a complaint, repeatedly stating that he is a family man and did not wish his wife and child to be affected by the incident. The victim alleged that she categorically mentioned to the Air India crew about her unwillingness to confront the accused and negotiate with him, sill she was forced to face him.

According to FIR, shortly after lunch was served and the lights were switched off on board AI 102 of November 26, the inebriated male passenger seated in Business Class seat 8A walked to the elderly women’s seat, unzipped his pant and urinated on her.

“I immediately got up to notify the stewardess of what had happened. My clothes, shoes and bag were soaked in urine. The bag contained my passport, travel documents and currency. The flight staff refused to touch them, sprayed my bag and shoes with disinfection, and took me to the bathroom and gave me set of airline pyjamas and socks,” read the FIR.

ALSO READ || Air India imposed 30-day ban on man for ‘urinating’ on women onboard NY-Delhi flight

The lady further informed that she asked the staff for a change of seat but was told that no other seat was available. “Another business class passenger who had witness my plight and was advocating for me pointed out that there were seats available in the first class,” victim mentioned in the FIR.

On the basis of complaint, a case was registered under section 294 (obscene act in public place), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) and 510 (misconduct in public by a drunken person) of the Indian Penal Code as well as under Aircraft Rules.

ALSO READ || How two fixed-wing aircrafts have become headache for AAP government in Punjab? Check details!

Meanwhile, Air India imposed a 30-day flying ban on the accused passenger and initiated an internal probe to check the lapses on part of the crew in addressing the situation.

Air India CEO Campbell Wilson has also taken note of the matter and told airline staff to report any improper behaviour on aircraft to authorities at the earliest even if the matter appeared to have been settled.