In the wake of several incidents involving unruly passengers on board aircraft, civil aviation regulator DGCA today asked airline operators to report such cases without any delay.

The airlines should report such incidents immediately through means like telephone and in writing within 12-hours, it said in a circular issued to the operators.

The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has also issued a proforma to all carriers -- both scheduled and non-scheduled-- "for reporting incidents of unruly/disruptive passengers which a carrier is supposed to submit within the stipulated time".

In the recent past, a number of incidents involving unruly passengers have taken place posing a threat to the safety of the flight and/or its passengers, crew, or its properties, the DGCA Cabin Safety circular issued today said.

"However, reporting of such incidents have either been substantially delayed or not reported to the regulatory authority," the circular said.

The incident is to be immediately reported by the Chief of Flight Safety/Cabin Crew Nodal Officer (telephonically) and written information should be submitted within 12-hours of the landing of the aircraft as per the enclosed proforma, it said.

According to the circular, all incidents are to be reported to the Director Air Safety Headquarters (Cabin Safety Division) and in addition to Director Air Safety/Regional Controller Air Safety in whose region the flight lands after the incident.