Airline cracks down on crew's weight, fitness and health, warning some staff could be pulled from flights

Air India is preparing to roll out a policy that ties cabin crew eligibility to Body Mass Index (BMI) standards - a policy that's generating controversy and comment.

The airline told Fox News Digital in a statement Thursday, "We have introduced a policy promoting awareness around healthy lifestyles and providing guidance on maintaining appropriate fitness levels. 

"It is intended to support crew members in sustaining long-term health while being fully prepared for the operational demands of their role, and is in line with World Health Organization (WHO) BMI classifications," the company went on.

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The airline said the new policy includes "periodic checks and guidance, while ensuring employee welfare. Air India has programs in place around nutrition, wellness, mental health, fatigue management and exercise to help cabin crew members manage their health optimally."

Air India, the company added, "emphasizes that fitness is intrinsically linked to safety and performance. Ensuring that cabin crew are physically capable of handling critical onboard situations is a key priority for the airline."

The airline will begin enforcing the rules May 1, potentially even placing some crew members on unpaid leave if they fall outside prescribed BMI ranges, according to NDTV.

The Air India guidelines as obtained by The Economic Times classify a BMI of 18 to 24.9 as fit for duty. 

Crew members below 18 may only be cleared after medical and functional assessments, the same outlet reported. 

Those between 25 and 29.9 need to pass a functional evaluation to remain eligible. 

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Under the policy, a BMI of 30 or higher would be considered "obese" - making employees ineligible for active flight rosters and resulting in an immediate loss of pay.

Affected staff would then be required to undergo further medical evaluation - including blood sugar and lipid profile tests - within seven days to assess potential health risks, NDTV reported.

Under the proposed rules, crew members classified as "underweight" or "overweight" could still be cleared for duty if they pass required medical and functional assessments.

The highly controversial policy is igniting a flurry of comments both for and against the new rules.

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Some travelers applauded the BMI restrictions.

"When I started in the '90s, that's what I had to do in my interview - stepping on the scale - and it's a great idea. Crew members should be fit and able to do their job for safety reasons," one commenter wrote on Instagram.

Another said, "Absolutely right. The most important task of the cabin crew is to be able to act in an emergency situation and help passengers, it is not to serve food. . . . Most airlines do not test physical fitness at all."

Another Instagram user saw it differently, saying, "Mad management - first [check] health of your airplanes."

Emer Delaney, a registered dietitian based in London and founder of My Private Dietitian, said she worries that checking BMI may do more harm than good.

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"I understand what Air India is trying to do," she told Fox News Digital. "However, BMI is a very crude measure, and it isn't the only marker of someone's actual health or fitness."

She added, "People come in different shapes and sizes, and BMI alone is not a strong marker of someone's health or fitness. Someone could have a BMI outside the desired range, and still be fit."

Once the policy is in place, crew members who don't meet the requirements will have 30 days to fall within range or receive a final warning, NDTV reported. 

Delaney said she recognizes that being part of a crew on an airline is a physically demanding job, especially for long-haul flights, she said.

"Crew are on their feet for long hours . . . and in certain situations, passengers rely on crew to act quickly and confidently," she said. 

But "BMI alone solely focuses on body size."

Air India, headquartered in Mumbai, said its new policy will be applicable to those flying as well as those still undergoing training, The Economic Times reported.