A passenger on board flight AI2336, traveling from Delhi to Bangkok, allegedly urinated on a co-passenger, who has been identified as Hiroshi Yoshizane, the Managing Director of Bridgestone India.
Nearly three years after the infamous “pee-gate” incident involving a drunken passenger on an Air India flight, the airline has once again found itself in an embarrassing situation. The incident occurred during the descent of the Tata Sons-owned flight and was promptly reported by Air India to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
According to internal airline reports cited by news outlets, the accused, Tushar Masand, was seated in 2D and reportedly urinated on Yoshizane, who was seated in 1D.
Cabin crew members Sunpreet Singh and Rishika Matre responded quickly to the complaint, providing towels to the victim and relocating Masand to avoid further discomfort. Yoshizane was taken to the lavatory to change clothes, and the captain was notified of the situation.
Another business class passenger, Matthew (seated in 1F), also expressed his unease and demanded Masand’s removal from the premium cabin, citing safety concerns. Following his visit to the lavatory, Masand apologised profusely to Yoshizane, who, despite the distress, chose not to file a formal complaint, saying he didn’t want to waste time upon landing.
Nonetheless, Masand was given a verbal warning and relocated to seat 14C after Matthew refused to sit beside him. Air India later confirmed that the crew had reported the incident and followed all protocols. The airline also stated that the crew offered to help Yoshizane file a grievance with authorities in Bangkok, which he declined.
In a statement, Air India said, “The crew followed all laid down procedures, and the matter has been reported to the authorities. In addition to warning the unruly passenger, our crew offered assistance to the aggrieved passenger to file a grievance, which was declined.”
An independent committee will now review the matter to determine any further action against Masand. “Air India continues to follow the SOPs as laid out by DGCA in such matters,” a spokesperson added.
This latest controversy comes in the wake of the 2022 urination incident aboard a New York-Delhi Air India flight, in which Shankar Mishra, allegedly intoxicated, urinated on a 72-year-old woman in the business class cabin. The woman’s belongings were soaked, and she claimed the crew denied her a change of seat, offering only a staff seat instead. She also alleged that the crew brought Mishra to her for an apology despite her objections.
Mishra was later banned from flying with Air India for 30 days, a move that attracted significant public backlash. He was arrested, fired from his job at Wells Fargo, and became the focus of widespread media scrutiny.