Air India tweaks alcohol policy after 'peegate' scandal

Air India said it has adjusted its in-flight alcohol service policy in the wake of a mid-air urination scandal that has cost the carrier over $40,000 in fines. The incident, in which a drunk senior US bank executive was accused of urinating on a 72-year-old woman seated in business class on a flight last year from New York to New Delhi, has been dubbed "peegate" by local media. The airline has faced severe criticism for its handling of the woman's complaint and for allowing the banker, Indian national Shankar Mishra, to disembark as normal when the aircraft landed. But Air India defended itself in a statement on Tuesday, saying "in the judgement of the crew, the alleged perpetrator posed no risk to flight safety at any time". "The alleged perpetrator was calm, co-operative and professed ignorance of the allegation. He had not been served excessive alcohol by crew and did not appear intoxicated to the crew," the statement added. The airline did acknowledge, however, its failure to report the incident, which took place on November 26, as required by the Indian aviation regulator.<br/>