Nearly two months after an Air India pilot allowed a passenger into the cockpit during a Dubai-Delhi flight, the aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered the airline to ground the entire crew until the investigation is completed. A flight attendant had complained to the DGCA about the pilot allowing a 'female friend' into the cockpit. The incident took place on February 27.
While the cabin crew appears to have played no role in the incident, the entire flight crew has been derostered pending investigations, news agency PTI reported citing an anonymous official at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
According to the official, there is an allegation that is being investigated, and the principle of natural justice will be applied, as well as the pilot in question being given the opportunity to present his case.
The official also stated that the pilot will remain grounded until the regulator makes a final decision on the matter.
While Air India did not immediately respond to the latest development, the airline stated on April 21 that it had taken serious note of the reported incident and that investigations were underway. Unauthorised individuals are not permitted to enter the cockpit, and any such entry may violate standards, as per the aviation rules.
ALSO READ | Air India Pilots Write To Ratan Tata Against Revamped Salary Structure Issue, Seek His Intervention: Report
The airline recently made headlines after a urination incident on its New York-New Delhi flight. On Tuesday, nearly two months after the incident, Air India announced that it has completed its internal investigation and will assist the flight's pilot-in-command with an appeal against the DGCA's suspension of his licence, which the airline considers "excessive." The DGCA suspended the pilot's licence for three months last week, fined Air India Rs 30 lakh, and fined the airline's in-flight services director Rs 3 lakh, all in connection with the urination incident on November 26, 2022.