Relevance: GS II (Regulatory Bodies) & GS III (Infrastructure – Aviation) | Source: The Hindu / PIB
1. The Context: Why the Change?
Even a single disruptive passenger on a flight creates a serious safety risk for hundreds of people.
The Old Problem:
Currently, airlines must refer cases of passenger misconduct to an Independent Committee, which can take up to
45 days to decide punishment. This delays both justice and safety.
The New Solution:
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has proposed a Zero Tolerance Policy
allowing airlines to take immediate action.
2. Key Proposed Reforms (The 30-Day Direct Ban)
- Direct Action: Airlines may directly ban a disruptive passenger for up to 30 days without waiting for committee approval.
- What counts as “Disruptive”?
- Smoking on board, including e-cigarettes.
- Consuming alcohol on domestic flights or bringing personal alcohol.
- Tampering with emergency exits or life jackets.
- Screaming, protesting, kicking seats, or creating nuisance.
- No-Fly List Clause:
A direct 30-day ban does not automatically place the passenger on the national DGCA “No-Fly List”
unless the independent committee later enhances the punishment.
3. The Four Levels of Offenses
If the independent committee reviews the case, stricter penalties apply:
- Level 1: Verbal abuse – Ban up to 3 months.
- Level 2: Physical abuse (hitting/pushing) – Ban up to 6 months.
- Level 3: Life-threatening violence (e.g., choking) – Minimum 2-year ban.
- Level 4 (New): Attempted or actual cockpit breach – Minimum 2-year to lifetime ban.
UPSC Value Box
| Concept | Simple Explanation for Prelims |
|---|---|
| DGCA | The Directorate General of Civil Aviation is India’s primary statutory body regulating civil aviation safety and air transport. |
| The Legal Balance | Represents the governance challenge of balancing a citizen’s Article 21 personal liberty/right to travel with the State’s duty to ensure public safety. |
Prelims Practice Question
With reference to the proposed DGCA rules for handling disruptive passengers, consider the following statements:
- Airlines can directly impose a flying ban of up to 30 days without referring the matter to an independent committee.
- Passengers banned under this immediate 30-day provision are automatically added to the DGCA national “No-Fly List”.
- A newly introduced Level 4 offense deals with attempted or actual cockpit breach.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Correct Answer: (b)
One-line wrap: DGCA’s zero-tolerance framework enables swift action against disruptive passengers while balancing
individual liberty with aviation safety.
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