DELHI- An Indian passenger allegedly urinated on a co-passenger aboard Air India (AI) flight AI2336 from Delhi (DEL) to Bangkok (BKK) on Wednesday, April 9, 2025.
Air India confirmed the incident in an official statement, noting that cabin crew followed all required procedures after the offense occurred, offering assistance to the affected passenger.
Air India Passenger Urinates on Co-Pax
The incident reportedly involved Tushar Masand, seated in 2D, who urinated on Hiroshi Yoshizane, Managing Director of Bridgestone India, who was seated in 1D.
Upon being alerted, Air India cabin crew members responded immediately, providing towels for cleanup and relocating Masand to prevent further disturbance.
Yoshizane was escorted to the lavatory to change his clothes, and the captain was promptly informed of the situation. Despite the distressing nature of the incident, Yoshizane declined to file a formal complaint, stating he preferred not to waste time upon arrival in Bangkok.
Airline Remarks
Air India’s statement confirmed that proper procedures were followed by the flight crew.
“In addition to warning the unruly passenger, our crew offered to assist the aggrieved passenger to take up a grievance with authorities in Bangkok, which was declined at the time,” the airline stated.
The airline further noted that the case would be reviewed by the standing Independent Committee to assess the incident and determine appropriate action against the unruly passenger.
“Air India continues to follow the SOPs as laid out by DGCA in such matters,” the statement concluded.
Another business class passenger, Matthew, seated in 1F, expressed significant discomfort after witnessing the incident. He requested Masand be removed from the business class cabin, citing safety concerns.
Following his visit to the lavatory, Masand reportedly offered apologies to Yoshizane. Despite this, crew members issued Masand a verbal warning and relocated him to seat 14C after Matthew refused to continue sitting near him.
Similar Pee-Gate Incident
Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran expressed “anguish” after a passenger allegedly urinated on a 72-year-old woman aboard an Air India (AI) flight from New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to New Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL).
The November 2022 incident on the business class cabin of a long-haul flight triggered widespread outrage after the victim’s complaint surfaced, prompting criticism of Air India’s (AI) delayed response and handling of the situation.
Airline Faced Backlash Over Handling of Incident
The incident occurred on November 26, 2022, when passenger Shankar Mishra, reportedly intoxicated, urinated on his elderly co-passenger during Air India’s JFK-DEL flight. The victim immediately reported the incident to the cabin crew and later sent a formal complaint to the Tata Sons chairman, describing her experience as “traumatic.”
According to the victim’s account, she was completely soaked and requested a seat change. The crew allegedly offered her a small staff seat instead of a proper alternative. Making matters worse, they reportedly brought Mishra to her for an apology against her wishes and only issued a partial ticket refund.
The airline’s handling drew criticism from multiple quarters, particularly their delayed response. Air India formed an internal committee after the incident and imposed only a 30-day interim travel ban on Mishra. The complaint was filed with police on December 28, almost a month after the incident occurred, and that too only after the woman’s family explicitly requested it.
Regulatory and Corporate Response
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) took action by issuing notices to the flight’s officials and crew, citing non-compliance with protocols for handling unruly passengers. The aviation regulator described the crew’s behavior as “unprofessional,” highlighting systematic failures in their response procedures.
In response to the growing scandal, Air India de-rostered one pilot and four cabin crew members. CEO Campbell Wilson expressed “regret” and “pain” over the incident, promising a more robust reporting system for unruly passenger behavior going forward.
Tata Sons chairman Chandrasekaran acknowledged the airline’s failure, stating, “We will review and repair every process to prevent or address any incidents of such unruly nature.” His admission of Air India’s shortcomings represents an attempt to address the reputational damage caused by the mishandling of the situation.
Legal Consequences and Corporate Fallout
Mishra faced immediate personal and professional consequences. US banking firm Wells Fargo, his employer at the time, terminated his employment and issued a statement confirming they were “cooperating with law enforcement.”
Law enforcement arrested Mishra in Bangalore before transferring him to Delhi, where he was charged with sexual harassment and public misconduct. A local court ordered him to judicial custody for 14 days.
Before his arrest, Mishra’s legal representation claimed he had arranged for the victim’s belongings to be cleaned two days after the incident. His statement suggested the victim’s “persisting grievance was only concerning adequate compensation being paid by the airline.” His legal team also noted that cabin crew statements contained “no eyewitness to the incident” and were “merely hearsay evidence.”
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