The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on February 18, 2026, issued the Draft Civil Aviation Requirements Section 3 – AIR Transport Series M Part VI issue III on Handling of Unruly / Disruptive Passengers in Aircraft.
The following has been stated: -
•The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued Civil Aviation Requirements (Feb 2026) prescribing a zero-tolerance policy for unruly or disruptive passengers on aircraft and at airports.
•Airlines must classify misconduct into four levels (from verbal abuse to life-threatening acts and cockpit breach) and may impose temporary bans, with serious cases referred to an Independent Committee for inclusion in a DGCA-maintained No-Fly List.
•Specified disruptive acts (e.g., smoking, intoxication, misuse of emergency exits, protests) can attract immediate airline bans up to 30 days without committee review.
•Affected passengers may appeal to an Appellate Committee constituted by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, except in cases involving national security as notified by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Comments are invited by March 16, 2026.
The detailed notification is given in the document below.
[Notification No.: F. No. 23-14/2014-AED]
