India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has proposed stricter rules to address unruly passenger behaviour, introducing provisions that would allow airlines to directly impose temporary flying bans and strengthen enforcement mechanisms to maintain safety and discipline on board aircraft. The draft revised Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) reflects what the regulator described as a “No/Zero Tolerance Policy” aimed at ensuring the safety of passengers, crew, and aircraft while preserving order during flights.
Under the proposed framework, airlines would be permitted to impose an immediate flying ban of up to 30 days on passengers found engaging in disruptive conduct without first referring the matter to an independent committee. This provision is intended to enable quicker action in clear cases of misconduct. Offences that could attract such immediate bans include smoking onboard, consumption of alcohol on domestic flights, misuse of emergency exits, and unauthorised handling of safety equipment such as life jackets.
The DGCA has also directed airlines to develop and implement detailed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for managing unruly passengers and reporting incidents to the regulator. These procedures must be shared with all relevant stakeholders to ensure consistent handling of such situations across the aviation sector. For longer bans, decisions will continue to be reviewed by an independent committee constituted by the airline, which must include a representative from another carrier to ensure impartiality.
Existing provisions allowing airlines to impose a temporary ban of up to 45 days pending a committee’s decision will remain in force under the revised rules. Final penalties would depend on the severity of the misconduct, with offences categorised into four levels. Level 1 violations — such as verbal harassment, inappropriate gestures, or disruptive intoxicated behaviour — may result in a ban of up to three months. Level 2 offences involving physically abusive conduct, including pushing, hitting, grabbing, or sexual harassment, can lead to bans of up to six months.
More serious misconduct attracts significantly harsher penalties. Level 3 violations involve life-threatening actions such as damaging aircraft systems or engaging in severe physical violence, including choking or assault, and carry a minimum flying ban of two years or longer without an upper limit. Level 4 offences, considered the gravest category, include attempted or actual breaches of the flight crew cockpit and also attract bans of at least two years or more.
Apart from behavioural violations, passengers may also be prohibited from flying on grounds related to national security risks. The aviation regulator has invited comments from stakeholders on the proposed amendments, with feedback open until March 16, after which the revised rules may be finalised.
