Archive · 20 Aug 2026
India's No-Fly List Reaches 447 Amid Rising Passenger Misconduct
A passenger on a flight to Kochi allegedly damaged part of the emergency exit and tried to open the plane door.
This frightened many people on the aircraft.
Crew members and passengers stopped and tied him up safely.
The plane landed safely in Kochi, where police took him away.
The incident is being treated as a possible danger to aircraft safety.
India has rules for banning passengers who behave dangerously or disruptively.
Since 2017, 447 people have reportedly been put on the No-Fly List.
The length of a ban depends on how serious the behaviour is, and banned passengers can appeal.
A 36-year-old passenger allegedly damaged an emergency-exit window panel and tried to open the door during Batik Air flight OD-231 from Kuala Lumpur to Kochi.
Cabin crew and passengers restrained the man with zip ties before the aircraft landed safely at Cochin International Airport.
CISF personnel took the passenger into custody and handed him to local police, who booked him under the Aircraft Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Government figures say 447 passengers have been placed on India's No-Fly List since regulations were introduced in 2017.
Rules allow bans ranging from three months for level-1 misconduct to three years or life for life-threatening level-3 behaviour.
- Who
- A 36-year-old passenger, cabin crew, fellow passengers, CISF personnel and local police were involved.
- What
- The passenger allegedly broke an emergency-exit window panel, tried to open the emergency door and threatened people; authorities then detained and charged him.
- When
- The report is dated August 19, 2026; the exact date of the flight incident is not stated.
- Where
- On Batik Air flight OD-231 from Kuala Lumpur to Kochi, which landed at Cochin International Airport.
- Why
- The incident prompted renewed concern over unruly passenger behaviour and highlighted that 447 passengers have been banned from flying in India since 2017.
- No-Fly List total
- 447 passengers have reportedly been banned from flying in India since 2017.
- Flight
- Batik Air OD-231, operating from Kuala Lumpur to Kochi.
- Alleged conduct
- The passenger allegedly damaged an emergency-exit window panel and attempted to open the emergency exit door.
- Arrest location
- Cochin International Airport, where CISF personnel took the passenger into custody.
- Reporting deadlines
- Airlines must report misconduct by email within 12 hours and submit a written DGCA report within 24 hours of landing.
- Appeal period
- A banned passenger may appeal within 60 days to an appellate committee headed by a retired High Court judge.