New DGCA Rules for Unruly Passengers: What Are Level 1, 2, 3 and 4 Categories of Unruly Flyer?

New Delhi, February 20: India's aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has unveiled a comprehensive new draft framework to crack down on unruly passenger behaviour. Citing a "Zero Tolerance Policy", the regulator has proposed tougher penalties and a new structural classification of offenses. The revised norms, made public on February 18, aim to streamline enforcement by allowing airlines to impose immediate short-term bans while introducing a severe new category for cockpit security breaches. It must be noted that the revised norms have been proposed and have not been finalised.

"A 'No/ Zero Tolerance Policy' has been adopted to ensure the safety of the aircraft/persons/property and to maintain good order & discipline on board an aircraft," DGCA said in its draft revised rules.

Understanding Level 1, 2, 3 and 4 Categories for Unruly Flyers

The most significant change in the proposed Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) is the grading of misconduct into four distinct levels. Each level carries a specific minimum punishment, ensuring that the penalty is commensurate with the severity of the offense. Air India Pilot Reports Possible Defect in Fuel Control Switch in Boeing 787-8 Aircraft, Airline Grounds Plane and Informs DGCA.

• Level 1: Verbal Misconduct Includes physical gestures, verbal harassment, and unruly inebriation.

  Penalty: A flying ban of up to three months.

• Level 2: Physically Abusive Behaviour includes pushing, kicking, hitting, grabbing, or any form of inappropriate touching and s*xual harassment.

  Penalty: A flying ban of up to six months.

• Level 3: Life-Threatening Behaviour Includes serious physical violence such as choking or murderous assault, and intentional damage to aircraft operating systems.

  Penalty: A minimum ban of two years or more, with no upper limit.

• Level 4: Cockpit Breach (New Category) Specifically targets attempted or actual unauthorised entry into the flight crew compartment (cockpit). Previously grouped under Level 3, this has been elevated to reflect its extreme security risk.

  Penalty: A minimum ban of two years, which can extend to a lifetime ban.

New Powers for Immediate Action

Under the proposed rules, airlines no longer need to wait for an independent committee to act in certain "disruptive" cases. Carriers can now directly impose an immediate 30-day flying ban for specific acts, including smoking on board, consuming personal alcohol on domestic flights, or tampering with emergency exits and life-saving equipment like life jackets. For more complex cases, the existing independent committee, typically headed by a retired District and Sessions Judge, will still deliberate on whether a passenger should be placed on the official "No-Fly List". Once a passenger is added to this list, all other Indian airlines will now be required to enforce the ban, a move intended to prevent "airline hopping" by offenders. IndiGo Fined INR 22.20 Crore by DGCA for Large-Scale Flight Disruptions in December 2025.

Early Detection and SOPs

The DGCA has mandated that airlines establish clear Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to detect potential trouble before a flight even takes off. Ground staff are being trained to identify "early signs" of aggression at check-in counters, lounges, and boarding gates. The regulator noted that unruly behaviour often stems from poor service or cumulative delays. While enforcing discipline, the draft rules explicitly state that airline staff must remain professional and discourteous behaviour during the redressal of genuine passenger grievances will not be permitted. At present, the draft rules are open for stakeholder and public consultation until March 16. Once finalised, they will apply to all domestic and international flights operating to and from India, including those operated by foreign carriers.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 20, 2026 01:36 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).