Supreme Court Justice K V Viswanathan on Tuesday recounted an unsettling flight experience involving two inebriated co-passengers, highlighting the challenges posed by unruly flyers. Justice Viswanathan narrated the incident during a hearing on a plea urging stricter measures to address such behavior on flights.
Detailing the ordeal, Justice Viswanathan said he was traveling alongside fellow SC judge Justice Surya Kant when the incident occurred. “Two male passengers were visibly drunk. One entered the washroom and fell asleep inside, locking the door for over 30 minutes. The other, visibly unwell, remained outside holding a vomit bag,” he shared.
The flight crew, all women, reportedly struggled to manage the situation, eventually seeking assistance from another passenger to unlock the lavatory and escort the inebriated individual back to his seat. The entire incident unfolded during a 2-hour-40-minute flight, causing discomfort to other passengers.
Justice Viswanathan, who was sitting on a bench with Justice B R Gavai, emphasized the need for innovative approaches to handle unruly passengers. “Authorities must consider a strategic seating arrangement for such cases,” he suggested to Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, urging the aviation sector to address the issue comprehensively.
The hearing stemmed from a plea filed by a 73-year-old woman who alleged a harrowing experience on an Air India flight in November 2022, where a male co-passenger, Shankar Mishra, allegedly urinated on her in an intoxicated state. The shocking incident, which occurred in business class during a New York to Delhi flight, had sparked widespread outrage and raised questions about the safety and comfort of air travel.
