In a bizarre incident, a male passenger who was apparently drunk urinated on a female passenger onboard an Air India flight from New York to Delhi.

According to reports, the incident took place on November 26 on board Air India flight AI-102, which departed New York-JFK airport around 1pm, local time.

The female passenger was a senior citizen in her 70s who was sitting in a business class aisle seat of the flight.

According to reports, the incident occurred when the cabin lights were dimmed after the lunch was served. The woman even informed the cabin crew didn't take any action against the ill-mannered, unruly passenger.

It was only after the woman sent a letter to N Chandrasekaran, chairman of Tata Group that Air India initiated an investigation, said a source.

“The crew was not proactive in managing a very sensitive and traumatic situation, and I had to advocate for myself throughout, waiting for long periods of time to get a response. I am ...distressed that the airline made no attempt to ensure my safety or comfort during this incident,” the woman said in the letter.

“Shortly after lunch was served and the lights were switched off, ...another passenger walked to my seat, completely inebriated. He unzipped his pants, relieved himself and continued to expose me to his private parts,” the letter further said.

After urinating, the man was still standing there, exposing himself, and moved only after one of her co-passengers asked him to leave. When he walked away, the woman immediately informed one of the cabin crews, saying “My clothes, shoes and bag were completely soaked in urine. The stewardess followed me to the seat, verified that it smelled of urine, and sprayed disinfectant on my bag and shoes...”

Later, the crew gave the female passenger a set of pyjamas and disposable slippers to change into after she had cleansed herself in the restroom of the aircraft.

She didn't want to sit in her dirty seat again, so she stood beside the toilet for almost 20 minutes. She was instructed to return to her seat after sitting in the narrow crew seat for an hour. “Although the staff had put sheets on top, the area was still reeking of urine,” she said.

The passenger was then allocated a different crew seat two hours later, where she sat for the rest of her flight. But later, another traveller informed her that some first class seats were empty.

“Clearly the crew did not feel that taking care of a distressed passenger was a priority. At the end of the flight, the staff told me they would get me a wheelchair to ensure that I clear customs as early as possible. However, the wheelchair deposited me at a waiting area, where I waited for 30 minutes, and nobody came to get me. I finally had to clear customs on my own and collect the luggage by myself — all in Air India pyjamas and socks,” she said.

Although, Air India stated in a statement that it has filed a police complaint about the incident however, it did not specify when the 30-day flying ban on the passenger came into effect.

"A police complaint has already been lodged in this case and Air India is committed to assist the law enforcement agencies as well as regulatory authorities to ensure that justice is delivered to the aggrieved passenger," Air India said in a statement.

"As a first step, Air India has already reported the matter to the Internal Committee in accordance with DGCA CAR – for declaring the passenger unruly. Meanwhile, the passenger has been banned from flying with Air India for 30 days or till the decision of the internal committee, whichever is earlier. If found guilty, action will be taken against the unruly passenger as per regulatory guidelines," it added.

Aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said it has sought a report from the airline on the incident, which took place on November 26 and will 'take action against those found negligent'.