Air India is once again spotlight, and for all the wrong reasons. A business class passenger allegedly urinated on a Japanese national during a Delhi-to-Bangkok flight on April 9. The incident occurred on flight AI2336 and involved Hiroshi Yoshizane, Managing Director of Bridgestone India.
Airline officials confirmed the matter was reported to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and that all protocols for handling unruly passengers were followed. The episode comes less than three years after the airline faced national outrage over a similar incident involving a female passenger on a New York-Delhi flight.
According to internal communication cited in news reports, the offender, identified as Tushar Masand, was seated in seat 2D. During the final moments of the flight, he allegedly urinated on Yoshizane, who was seated directly ahead in seat 1D.
Air India cabin crew members responded immediately, as per reports. Yoshizane was given towels for cleanup, and Masand was relocated to another part of the aircraft.
A third business class passenger, identified as Matthew (seat 1F), objected to Masand’s presence in the cabin, citing safety and hygiene concerns. Following further protests, Masand was shifted to an economy class seat — 14C.
No complaint filed, but Air India issues warning
Despite the nature of the incident, Yoshizane declined to file a formal complaint upon landing, opting not to “waste time” in Bangkok. Masand, after visiting the lavatory, reportedly apologised profusely to the executive.
Air India confirmed in a statement that a case of “unruly passenger behaviour” was reported to the authorities and that crew acted in line with standard operating procedures (SOPs). “The crew offered assistance to the aggrieved passenger to take up a grievance with authorities in Bangkok, which was declined at the time,” the airline stated.
An independent committee has been tasked with reviewing the incident and determining any further action against Masand.
2022 Pee-Gate repeated?
This is yet another case of urination aboard an Air India flight. It draws strong parallels to the November 2022 incident on the New York-Delhi flight when a drunken man named Shankar Mishra allegedly urinated on a 72-year-old woman in business class.
The woman’s complaint described her clothes and bag as being “completely soaked in urine.” She also alleged that the crew failed to relocate her and instead brought Mishra back to her seat to apologise, against her wishes.
That incident prompted widespread criticism of the airline’s handling of in-flight misconduct, eventually leading to regulatory action and policy overhauls.
DGCA responds
Reacting to the incident, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said, “Whenever these kinds of incidents happen, the Ministry takes note of them. They will speak to the airline, and if there is any wrongdoing, then we will take necessary action.”
These repeated incidents of urination on passengers in Air India flights raise questions over its in-flight alcohol policy, passenger screening, and crew training in handling intoxicated or disruptive flyers.
