The Civil Aviation Authority of India has proposed a tougher and more immediate crackdown on disruptive behavior in the air, including a new power that would allow airlines to impose short-term grounding rules without waiting for an independent panel to decide on the case.
In a draft of revised rules released this week, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said it is moving to tougher enforcement to protect passengers, crew and aircraft as incidents involving unruly behavior – often linked to alcohol or failure to follow safety guidelines – continue to test airline staff.
DGCA proposes a “No/Zero Tolerance Policy” for inappropriate behavior on board
The proposed revised Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) signals a move towards tougher and faster action against passengers accused of disruptive behaviour.
“A ‘no/zero tolerance’ policy has been adopted to ensure the safety of the aircraft/persons/property and to maintain order and discipline on board the aircraft,” the DGCA said.
Read also | DGCA fines Air India ₹1 million for flying Airbus without permission
The regulator also suggested that every airline must develop and implement a formal standard operating procedure (SOP) to deal with such incidents.
Among the suggestions, the DGCA said that the airline should formulate and implement SOPs for handling unruly passengers and for reporting incidents to the regulatory body and circulate them to all relevant stakeholders.
Airlines may be allowed to impose a 30-day ban without committee approval
The most significant proposed change is the introduction of an airline-driven immediate ban for certain violations.
“…an airline may directly ban a disruptive passenger from flying for a period not exceeding thirty (30) days without referring the matter to an independent committee if the passenger is found to have committed any of the following disruptive acts on board the aircraft,” the DGCA said.
Read also | DGCA has identified 377 aircraft with recurring defects since January 2025, government said
Under the proposal, airlines would be able to act quickly in cases that fall into specific categories, rather than waiting for an independent panel to decide — a process that can take time, especially as airlines must gather statements and supporting documentation.
Smoking, alcohol and abuse of emergency exits listed among the offenses
The draft rules list several examples of misconduct that could result in an immediate 30-day ban, including:
- smoking on board the plane
- consumption of alcohol on board a domestic flight
- misuse of the emergency exit
- unauthorized use of rescue equipment, including life jackets
The DGCA’s list reflects the types of incidents that airlines and cabin crew are increasingly identifying as difficult to control mid-flight, particularly on busy domestic routes.
An independent committee is still required for longer bans
The regulator is not proposing to abolish the existing independent review mechanism. Instead, the new provision is designed to complement it.
An independent committee set up by the airline — including a representative from another carrier, among others — would still rule on bans beyond the immediate 30-day window.
Read also | DGCA has identified 377 aircraft with recurring defects since January 2025, government said
Under the existing CAR, the airline concerned can ban an unruly passenger from flying for up to 45 days pending a decision by an independent committee. This provision remains in the revised proposal.
The DGCA maintains a tiered system of penalties: Level 1 to 4 offences
The draft rules also reaffirm the current framework that categorizes misconduct into levels, with penalties escalating according to severity.
Under the DGCA system:
- Level 1 offenses can be banned for up to three months
- Level 2 offenses can be banned for up to six months
- Level 3 and 4 offenses carry a minimum ban of two years or more, with no upper limit
The DGCA defines Level 1 as unruly behavior such as physical gestures, verbal harassment or unruly drunkenness.
Level 2 covers physically abusive behaviour, including pushing, kicking, hitting, grabbing, inappropriate touching or sexual harassment.
Read also | Air India faces DGCA action over repeated Dreamliner technical snags
Level 3 refers to “life-threatening behavior (damage to aircraft operating systems, physical violence such as choking, eye-gouging, homicidal assault, etc.)”.
Level 4 involves an attempted breach or actual breach of the flight crew compartment.
National security prohibitions remain separate from misconduct rules
The regulator noted that passengers can also be banned from flying because of a national security risk, a separate category outside the misconduct classification system.
Stakeholders were invited to provide feedback by March 16
The DGCA has opened the draft revised CAR for public and industry consultation and has sought comments from stakeholders by March 16.
If adopted, the proposals would mark one of the most sweeping revisions to India’s unruly passenger framework in years – shifting more immediate authority to airlines, while retaining an independent mechanism for longer-term sanctions.