Air India pilot who invited ‘lady friend’ into cockpit suspended, airline fined Rs 30 lakh

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation on Friday cracked the whip on Air India for flouting rules when a flight captain let a ‘lady friend’ into the cockpit of a flight on February 27 this year.

The civil aviation regulator has fined the airline Rs 30 lakh for “not promptly and effectively addressing the safety sensitive issue”.

The said pilot‘s license has also been suspended for three months for “misuse of his authority vested under the Aircraft Rules, 1937 and allowing violation of the applicable DGCA regulations”.

The incident occurred on the Delhi-Dubai sector, when the pilot was alleged by the cabin crew of having entertained a lady friend in the cockpit of the flight while asking for her to be served alcohol and snacks there.

DGCA claims that the one of the operating crew of the flight in question had written to the CEO of Air India, Campbell Wilson, however “the organisation did not take prompt corrective action despite this being a safety sensitive violation.”

India Today Television had reported last month that the complainant in the case had written to the CEO in early March but upon receiving no response, had approached the DGCA.

The regulator, in its action post conclusion of evidence, has also issued a warning to the co-pilot for not being assertive in preventing the violation.

Interestingly, the DGCA learnt during its investigation that the ‘lady passenger’ in question was an Air India staff on duty who was travelling as a passenger. The regulator has directed the airline to take administrative action against her including removing her from any managerial functions for a specified period.