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India is to fine airlines for releasing human POO from toilets in mid-air - following complaints about revolting waste raining down on houses.

A court has ordered that airlines should face financial penalties to compensate for environment damage caused by excrement falling from the skies.

Any airlines that empty toilet tanks during flights face fines of 50,000 rupees (£597.)

Aircrafts will be subject to surprise inspections and will be slapped with fines if their tanks are found to be empty upon landing.

The court told the country's aviation regulator to take action after hearing evidence from a retired army officer who said his Delhi home had repeatedly been spattered with airborne poo, reports the Hindustan Times .

(Image: Getty)

Lt Gen Satwant Singh Dahiya said: "For over a week now, we found that walls and floors of our terrace are splattered with large patches of excreta dumped by aircraft flying in front of Palam airport at night.

"The last time it happened early in October, we had to spend 50,000 rupees to get the exterior painted."

The Indian environment ministry sent investigators to inspect the retired officer's house and confirmed the substance on the walls was excrement, although they said they could not be sure of the source.

(Image: Getty Images)

The country's ministry for civil aviation had opposed the fines, pointing out most plane toilets store waste in special tanks that are emptied by ground crew after landing.

They said it was rare for tanks to be emptied mid-air but said leaks could occur.