On Friday night’s American Airlines flight 292 from New York JFK to Delhi, a passenger urinated on a seat opponent. Unlike recent similar incidents, though, this wasn’t a case of the man walking up and aiming at the victim. Instead the perpetrator had apparently gotten drunk and let loose during sleep, and it “leaked and fell on a fellow passenger.”
- The man who did it, who attends a U.S. university on a student visa, apologized
- And the victim, afraid of causing visa issues and cutting short his studies, didn’t seek charges
- American Airlines reported what happened to authorities in India, however
After the crew came to know about the incident on board, they informed the pilot who reported the matter to the ATC, which further alerted the CISF personnel who handed over the accused passenger to the Delhi Police.
“The airline’s own security team, along with the CISF, came into action after the incident came to light. The accused was immediately taken into custody once the flight landed. Police are recording the statements of the persons concerned,” another source at the airport informed PTI.
India’s rules include a potential limited-duration flight ban if found guilty of unruly behavior on board, which could complicate the student’s return to university.
In this case two risk factors combined to make the incident seem… not that unlikely?
- Every miserable flight experience and urban legend happens on American Airlines flights 292 and 293, their New York JFK – Delhi flights, in part because of the length of travel without being able to overfly Russia. They’re long flights, pushing operational maximums, and so have a greater chance of diversion.
- Moreover there does seem to be something about flights in and out of India. A man reportedly urinated on a passenger while flying Air India from New York JFK to Delhi on November 26. The crew did little about it, including refusing to upgrade her into an empty seat, and they even failed to report the incident to authorities. And then another Air India passenger urination incident followed shortly after.
In fairness, this is hardly limited to India flights. It’s happened in the past on U.S. airline flights as well, on American and JetBlue and easyJet and United.
(HT: H.G.)
That’s a pisser!!
Should absolutely lose his visa, and get 10 yr ban. Could possibly be looking at jail term if this was in the US.
Looks like Poppy is getting a little sloppy!
@ Nick — For peeing in his pants whole sleeping? Maybe we should put 8 year olds and great grandma in jail, too?
…”the perpetrator had apparently gotten drunk and let loose during sleep, and it “leaked and fell on a fellow passenger.”
I would not get into what sanctions might be appropriate for this type of “accident,” BUT, that passenger (a university student, according to the article, so neither “stupid” nor, apparantly, handicapped) was DRUNK and urinated in his (drunken) sleep. The passenger is responsible for his irresponsible drinking, and perhaps AA is also co-responsible for serving him too much alcohol (with a caveat that alcohol affects each of us differently). But even on the longest flights, like the one described, there is an expectation of moderate, sensible, self-discipline, personal hygiene, and, in this case, regular use of the lavatories. I’m not receptive to the student passenger’s “excuses,” and his apology falls flat.
#Brilliant
and no worries AA…George will take that “used” Econ seat and just turn the cushion over…
If he’s subject to an Indian flight ban, he should go to KTM via road if wanting to fly back to school in the US. It’s possible to connect in countries other than India.
Indian airlines had an alcohol ban because too many Indians weren’t trusted to be able to handle the alcohol consumption and avoid unruly drunken behavior. On my India-bound flights on non-Indian carriers going back decades, there were often a handful of Indians who would get plastered on board. If not by the airline’s alcohol, by the self-service BYO alcohol (some of which was even from the duty free stores/sales).
About losing his visa, is this a crime of moral turpitude when intent to harm others is lacking?
Possible health issues involved. The drunk pax should be taught an expensive and durable lesson. Visa revocation would be merely a first step. AA should ban alcohol on flights from/ to India. Any inebriated pax should be denied boarding. Clearly there is a pattern here and AA should be liable for failing to recognize and remedy.
What a bunch of self rightious, moralistic comments
Everyone makes mistakes. I don’t think anyone should lose a visa because he had an involuntary loss of bladder control, but I find that story lacks credibility. At that age I got drunk more nights than I care to remember, and not once did I piss myself or fail to wakeup in time to empty my bladder. I knew a student who got up, sleepwalked and urinated on his roommate, but he didn’t piss his own bed.
If the student had a documented incontinence issue (as diagnosed by MD) then I would cut him a break though he needs to start wearing diapers. However that’s a tough hill to climb, particularly for a younger person. The vast majority of these incidents involve – as we see here – someone who drank excessive amounts of alcohol. Thankfully he wasn’t driving a vehicle, but there is still a price to pay for his behavior.
I’m a flight attendant who worked aboard this flight. For clarity, the alleged perpetrator didn’t wet his pants and then it leaked onto another passenger. He was traveling in economy and walked up to business class and urinated on the passenger who was sleeping in his seat. The passenger awakened to a mist on his face and then he realized what was happening to him. It was a stressful situation for all involved.