‘Pee-gate’ again on Air India: Who is Tushar Masand, man who urinated on Japanese co-passenger?

Three years after the infamous ‘pee-gate’ episode aboard an Air India flight, a similar incident has once again caused controversy.

The latest episode took place on Wednesday on Air India’s AI-2336 flight from Delhi to Bangkok.

The Indian national involved, identified as Tushar Masand, has been prohibited from flying with the airline for 30 days.

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This incident contributes to a worrying trend, with several similar cases emerging in recent years, often linked to alcohol consumption .

In this report, we explore the details of the latest incident, revisit the earlier ‘pee-gate’ case, and social media reactions to the matter.

‘Pee-gate’ on Air India’s Delhi - Bangkok flight: Who is Tushar Masand?

Tushar Masand was on board an Air India flight from Delhi to Bangkok when he urinated on a Japanese co-passenger, Hiroshi Yoshizane.

Yoshizane, who is the managing director of Bridgestone India, has not filed any formal complaint regarding the incident so far.

Masand, aged 24 and seated at 2D, had consumed two glasses of single malt whisky before he stood up and urinated on the businessman seated in 1D, NDTV reported.

He was immediately moved to seat 14C and issued a warning, while the crew assisted the affected passenger.

Yoshizane was later taken to the lavatory to change his clothes, and the captain was informed of the development.

Another passenger, identified as Matthew and seated in 1F, reportedly expressed unease and requested Masand’s removal from the business class cabin due to safety concerns, according to a report by Mint.

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What Air India said on the incident

In a statement, the Tata Group-owned airline confirmed the incident involving “unruly passenger behaviour”.

“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 to assist an aggrieved passenger to take up a grievance with authorities in Bangkok, which was declined at the time,” the airline said.

However, it did not provide further details regarding the passenger’s conduct.

Air India said that its standing Independent Committee will be convened to assess the incident and decide on any potential action against the individual concerned.

“Air India continues to follow the SOPs as laid out by DGCA in such matters,” the statement added.

When asked about the incident, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said on Wednesday that the ministry would take note of the episode and speak with the airline.

“If there is any wrongdoing, we will take necessary action,” Naidu said at an event in the national capital.

An airline official, citing the crew’s report, said, “Masand immediately apologised for his behaviour. The pilot in command was promptly informed about the incident, who in turn informed the ground staff.”

When questioned by the crew, both involved passengers declined to file a formal complaint. “Not only Yoshizane, the airline asked all the business class passengers if they wanted to raise a complaint against Masand; however, all of them declined,” a second official was quoted as saying Hindustan Times.

“Yoshizane remained calm throughout, whereas Masand repeatedly apologised to him. When asked if he wanted to pursue the matter, Yoshizane said that he didn’t want to waste time after landing,” the official added.

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How social media reacted to the incident

Several users on social media expressed outrage over the incident, with many responding with sarcasm.

“Kindly provide one adult diaper each to every passenger,” one user joked.

Another wrote, “If this continues then the day is not far off when diapers will be made mandatory for Indian travellers on international flights.”

“This is serious and unacceptable. Pilots should be given the authority to eject such passengers in air,” a third user commented.

A fourth added, “What sort of nonsense is this. What exactly are they drinking?”

What happened in 2022 ‘pee-gate’?

The episode occurred on November 26, 2022, in the business class section of an Air India flight operating from New York to Delhi.

The person responsible, identified as Shankar Shyamnaval Mishra , urinated on a woman seated nearby during flight AI 102.

“My clothes, shoes and bag were completely soaked in urine,” the woman wrote in her complaint submitted the following day.

According to the woman, she requested the Air India staff for a different seat but was informed that no alternative was available. Instead, she was offered a crew member’s seat.

She also claimed that the crew brought the man to her, despite her objections, so that he could offer an apology.

She described the journey as the most “traumatic” experience for her, adding that the airline provided only a partial refund for her ticket.

Following the incident, Air India set up an internal committee to look into the allegations made against Mishra.

Soon after this, Air India placed a temporary travel ban of 30 days on Mishra - the duration of which led to criticism after the incident became public.

He was taken into custody and later dismissed from his role at the American banking company Wells Fargo.