Centre to release new rules for ‘no-fly’ list Friday

New Delhi: Civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju on Friday will unveil new rules to tackle unruly or disruptive passengers and to form a “national no fly list” for air safety. The no-fly list will allow airlines to deplane unruly passengers, which is a first for the Indian aviation industry.

It will be keenly-watched as to how many changes the government will make to the draft rules proposed by the government in May this year.

According to the draft rules, proposed punitive action will be based on three levels of misbehaviour and correspondingly escalating penalties. The first level — categorised as “disruptive behaviour” — referred to physical gestures, verbal harassment and unruly behaviour on account of inebriation and is punishable by a ban on flying for three months. The second (higher) level of misbehaviour pertained to “physically abusive behaviour”, including “kicking, pushing, hitting, grabbing inappropriate touching and sexual harassment” which is punishable by a ban on flying for six months. The third (and highest) level pertained to “life-threatening” behaviour including damage to aircraft, murderous assault, and breach of cockpit security” which is punishable by a ban on flying for two years or more.