🛫 The Air India “Pee-Gate” Incident: What Really Happened?
A Flight No One Will Ever Forget
2022-la oru flight journey irundhudhu... but not the kind anyone would want to remember. Air India flight AI-102, from New York to Delhi – business class-la ukandhirundha oru 70-year-old aunty, chill-a travel pannitu irundhanga. But appo dhaan shock-aana moment nadandhuchu.
One male passenger – totally drunk, zero control – walked up to her and peed on her. Yes. Pee. Just imagine – unga clothes, bag, seat... everything soaked. Adhuvum business class-la! Ithu just disgusting illa, shocking. But wait – story inga mudiyala. The real problem started after this.
Why This Incident Matters
Media dubbed it “Pee-Gate” – not because of just what happened, but because of how badly it was handled. It became a national issue because it exposed something scary – how airline systems, especially safety and dignity protocols, can completely fail when they’re needed most.
Flight-la Enna Nadandhuchu?
November 26, 2022. AI-102, a long-haul flight. Passenger Shankar Mishra – Wells Fargo India VP, fully intoxicated after four drinks – gets up, walks over to aunty sitting in seat 9A, unzips, and urinates on her. No warning, no shame. He didn’t even stop until another passenger intervened.
Aunty shock-aagiduchu. Avanga clothes, shoes, seat – ellam urine-la soaked. She immediately informed the cabin crew.
Cabin Crew's Response? Shocking.
Oru serious complaint vandhuchu-nu kooda, crew reacted like nothing happened.
Avanga just cleaned the seat.
Gave her pyjamas and slippers.
But didn’t give her a new seat unless the captain approved.
She had to stand near the toilet for 20 minutes.
And the drunk guy? He was allowed to go back to his seat and sleep peacefully. Avan mela onnum pannala. No detention. No tagging as “unruly.”
The Aftermath: Silence, Then Outrage
Time poyiduchu. Victim, full-a disappointed, wrote a letter directly to Tata Group Chairman N Chandrasekaran. (Tata had recently acquired Air India.)
That letter leaked. And the internet exploded.
Social Media Erupted 🔥
Twitter, Instagram, news channels – everywhere people were furious.
"This is NOT okay."
"Just 30-day ban? Seriously?!"
“Total insult to the victim’s dignity.”
“Pee-Gate” nu peyar vechudanga, Nixon’s Watergate scandal mathiri.
Air India’s Response – Way Too Late
Only after massive pressure:
Air India apologized formally on Jan 7, 2023.
Four crew members and the pilot were suspended.
Mishra got a 30-day ban (which was later extended to 4 months).
Internal committee formed.
Alcohol service review started.
Still, public sentiment? “Too little, too late.”
Legal Side Also Fired Up
DGCA fined Air India ₹30 lakh for not following protocol.
Pilot’s license was suspended for 3 months.
Shankar Mishra was arrested by Delhi Police from Bengaluru (Jan 6, 2023).
He faced charges for public misconduct and obscene acts.
He was also fired from Wells Fargo.
Victim later approached Supreme Court, asking for stronger SOPs for future cases.
Idhu Just One Incident-a?
Nope. Ithu romba periya wake-up call aayiduchu.
1️⃣ Airline Protocol Failure
Passenger totally misbehaved. Still, crew didn’t follow basic rules. They didn’t report it properly. No immediate action. Why? Poor training? Fear? Confusion? All questions rose.
2️⃣ Brand Trust Damage
Tata Group – one of India’s most respected names. Avanga Air India improve pannalam-nu try pannitu irundhanga. Aana idhu – total PR disaster. Platinum members kooda boycott panradhu consider pannanga.
3️⃣ Entire Industry-ku Jolt
Air India mattum illa. Maatri airlines-um shook-aagiduchu. Passenger dignity and safety na industry-la biggest promise. Idhu madhiri case nadandha, airline image-aum, passenger confidence-um damage aagidum.
So What Needs to Change?
✅ Zero Tolerance Policy – Intoxicated or abusive passenger? No excuses. Immediate action. Arrest. No-fly list. No delays.
✅ Empower Cabin Crew – Crew-ku full authority venum. Decision edutha udane airline support pannanum. Illa confusion, delay, and injustice thaan outcome.
✅ Faster Legal Support – Incidents na immediately FIR. Victim-ku legal support and mental comfort kudu.
✅ Educate Passengers – Unlimited drinks-a kuduthu, apparam nadandha problem-ku “I didn’t know” nu excuse illa. Awareness about consequences is a must.
✅ Honest Public Apologies – Social media, press – wherever public hears about the incident, apology kooda reach aaganum. Cover-up panna try pannina, public thittudum.
Final Thoughts 🎯
Air India’s “Pee-Gate” was more than just a shameful incident – it was a total failure in handling trauma, protocol, and human dignity.
But from that failure came lessons.
Airlines learned. Public awareness increased. SOP reforms began.
And most importantly, victims like that aunty proved – even in trauma, courage can create change.
The Takeaway
Reputation-kaga cover panna koodadhu. People’s dignity-dhaan mukkiyam.
Whether you’re a passenger, a crew member, or just a citizen – next time something like this happens, we know how we should respond. Quickly. Decisively. Humanely.