Air India Suspends 2 Pilots For Allowing Friend Into Cockpit, Second Such Incident This Year
"A female friend of an AI-445 pilot entered the cockpit without following rules, both pilots have been grounded and off-rostered by Air India," a top Air India official told ANI.
New Delhi: Air India on Tuesday grounded two of its pilots for breaching cockpit norms after they permitted an unauthorised woman to enter the cockpit of flight AI-445, which was operating from Delhi to Leh, reported ANI.
According to ANI, the action came soon after the airline received a complaint from the cabin crew regarding an unauthorised female passenger entering the cockpit of the AI-445 aircraft.
"A female friend of an AI-445 pilot entered the cockpit without following rules, both pilots have been grounded and off-rostered by Air India," a top Air India official told ANI.
In response to the incident, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) stated that they are aware of the issue, and appropriate measures are being implemented in accordance with established procedures, according to ANI.
To conduct a thorough investigation, Air India has formed a committee to delve into the matter, ensuring a comprehensive examination of the events surrounding the violation.
"Air India has a just culture approach to all safety related events and has a zero tolerance for deliberate breaches of regulations. Such breaches are dealt with on a serious basis and sanctions will be imposed on those who are in breach of the regulations," IANS reported citing an Air India spokesperson.
According to ANI, the Leh route is one of the most difficult and sensitive air routes in the country in terms of safety and security and allowing an unauthorised person in the cockpit of a commercial aircraft amounts to a violation of the law.
"Landing at Leh airport is one of the toughest operations across country due to the high altitude mountainous terrain and sensitive too due to the presence of the country's defence forces bases. Moreover, to operate in this terrain requires a very good health record due to insufficient oxygen levels and due to this only highly skilled pilots with good health record should be deployed for Leh operations," aviation expert Vipul Saxena told ANI.
This incident comes recently after DGCA suspended the license of an Air India pilot who welcomed his female friend into the cockpit of Air India flight AI-915 on the Dubai to Delhi route on February 27.
The DGCA also imposed a fine of Rs 30 lakh on the airline for allegedly not taking prompt and effective action in the cockpit violation incident.
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