Blacklist habitual offenders: Crew

Mumbai: The recent spate of alleged molestation cases on flights — five in the last one week alone — underlines the growing need for more stringent laws that will deter ‘‘erring’’ male travellers, say all the female cabin crew members that TOI spoke to.
‘‘It’s not that this kind of sexual harassment and misbehaviour is new; it is an occupational hazard for most female crew,’’ says a flight attendant with a private carrier. What’s changed is that not only are instances of misbehaviour on the rise, but more air hostesses are willing to report them.
‘‘You have to deal with people deliberately jutting their elbows out, or brushing their hands against you. There was a time when the crew hardly ever discussed them, but that attitude is changing, with more of us taking a stand against harassment,’’ she added.
In a majority of cases that have been reported, the accused have been let off on bail after a mild rap on the knuckles. ‘‘Why can’t the airline blacklist a habitual molester?’’ asked a crew member.
12/01/10 Chinmayi Shalya/Times of India

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Jan 2010, Safety Jan 2010