New Delhi: The aviation ministry will bring out a no-fly list for Indian air passengers over the next two months that will bar unruly passengers from flying Indian carriers.
Aviation secretary R.N. Choubey presented the draft rules for the no-fly list which will be in the public domain for a month for comments. They will become applicable a month after that.
Aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation or DGCA will be the nodal agency for the no-fly list.
New no-fly rules have three levels for unruly behaviour by passengers. Level 1 will include disruptive behaviour like physical gestures etc, level 2 will include physically abusive behaviour like pushing, kicking, sexual harassment etc, and level 3 will include life threatening behaviour. The punishment suggested for unruly behaviour is also divided into three categories—a bar of 3 months for level 1, 6 months for level 2, and 2 years or more for level 3.
An airline can ban any unruly passenger, falling into one of the categories, immediately. Every airline will form a standing committee with external members in it. The passengers can appeal to this committee against the ban, and the committee will have to issue the final order within 10 days.
Other airlines can follow the first airline in banning the errant passenger.
Passengers recommended by security agencies will not have a right to appeal.