India to fine airlines for 'dropping' poo

An Indian environment court has ruled that airlines in the country will be fined INR50,000 if planes empty toilet tanks during flight.

The National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) ruling came after petitioner Lt Gen (Retd) Satwant Singh Dahiya alleged that the terrace of his house in South Delhi’s Vasant Enclave was repeatedly splattered with human excreta falling from planes.

The aviation ministry refuted the petitioner’s claim, stating that special tanks that store human waste are normally cleared by the ground crew once a plane lands.

As standard industry practice, airlines empty tanks storing human waste after landing, however, some instances of lavatory leaks in the air have occurred in the past.

The NGT bench chaired by Swatanter Kumar said, “Directorate General of Civil Aviation shall also issue directions that aircraft on landing shall be subjected to surprise inspection to see that human waste tanks are not empty.”

It further stated, “If any aircraft is found to be violating such circular or [their] tanks are found empty on landing, they shall be subjected to environment compensation of INR50,000 per default.”

According to the court’s directives, any amount collected in fines is to be used for environment protection.