Air India, which was once the Maharaja of the Skies, saw its reputation take a big hit due to the horrific incident wherein a male passenger exposed himself and urinated on a 70-year-old female passenger on the Air India New York-Delhi flight. Ever since the incident has come to light, and now with the Delhi police identifying the male culprit, social media has been abuzz with outrage over not just the incident but also the way Air India, now owned by the Tatas, handled it. Netizens have taken to social media to demand an immediate arrest of the culprit, pointing out also how the 30-day ban put on the passenger by Air India was not enough.
IAS officer Ashok Khemka tweeted said that the 30-day ban seems to be an extremely soft treatment of a disgusting act and also questioned the US-based multinational financial services company Wells Fargo for its silence over the incident.
"A 30-day ban seems an extremely soft treatment an extremely disgusting act. Why is Wells Fargo silent?"
Another user named Satvik Sethi said imposing a 30-day ban on the male passenger is an insult to injury. Sethi tweeted, "Air India is a joke. A man urinated on a woman on the flight and they did nothing. Imposing a 30-day ban is insult to injury. This is a case of public indecency, assault, and sexual harassment. There needs to be stricter punishment, this is a criminal activity. Name and shame him."
Sethi further stated that he is a platinum member of both Air India and Air Vistara and will stop using these airlines unless there is proper justice.
People have demanded several other things from not just Air India but other airlines as well. Taking to Twitter, architect Seetu Mahajan Kohli pointed out in a tweet, for example, that all airlines should stop serving alcohol on flights to India immediately.
Kohli tagged the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, and Air India and wrote on Twitter, “I think all Indian airlines should immediately stop serving alcohol, especially on flights to India. An aircraft is not a bar! Maybe one glass of wine per person, if at all. Rest needs to be stopped. I’ve had my own harrowing experiences.”
Another user replied to Kohli and wrote, “Serving unlimited alcohol on flights is not appropriate. Business class passengers seem to overindulge and create issues.”
A Twitter user wrote, “Shocking and disgusting behaviour by this hooligan. I am surprised that the action was taken after 1 month, this incident took place on 26th November and now they are on a hunt for this guy. He should be behind the bars and taught a good lesson. Pathetic mindset.” Another user replied and wrote, “Air India’s mindset not changed even after TATA takeover!”
Osmania University Professor K Nageshwar wrote, “Are you travelling by plane? Beware! Somebody may urinate on you! Thank god, Air India is no longer in the public sector. It is owned by India’s premier corporate house. The accused is banned from flying for 30 days. On the 31st day, he may perhaps be free to repeat the crime.”
Another user who goes by the username puffin_pipe on Twitter took potshots at Wells Fargo and wrote, “Such glorified companies reject and refuse to hire really talented candidates for openings in their organisation and they themselves hire a VP who does such outlandish acts on a flight.”
Meanwhile, some users also shared hilarious memes and cartoons on the incident.
Shankar Mishra, the passenger accused of urinating on a 70-year-old female passenger on a New York-Delhi flight, is the Vice President of the India Chapter of the US-based Wells Fargo. The accused was inebriated when the incident took place on November 26, 2022. Mishra is currently absconding and the Delhi Police is trying to trace him.
Tata Group-owned Air India has imposed a 30-day flying ban till the internal committee’s decision, whichever is earlier on the passenger. The airline said in its statement, “If found guilty, action will be taken against the unruly passenger as per regulatory guidelines.”
After the incident gained substantial traction on social media, Wells Fargo said in its statement, “Wells Fargo holds employees to the highest standards of professional and personal behaviour. We are full cooperating with the authorities in their enquiries regarding this incident.”
Air India CEO Campbell Wilson said in a letter to its employees that employees must report any untoward incident to the authorities concerned at the earliest. He further said timely action against those who do not comply with aircraft rules is a must. Wilson further noted in his letter, “The repulsion felt by the affected passenger is totally understandable and we shar her distress.”
Also read: Craziest inflight incidents: Air India mid-air peeing, Indigo scuffle and more
Also read: Air India CEO tells employees to report untoward incidents to authorities at earliest
Also read: Air India New York To Delhi Flight: Drunk Man Urinates On Woman In Business Class