Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is also likely to take action after issue give reasons to the pilots and gave them some time to respond. Then after looking into the same the regulator will decide about its course of action against them.
This is the second time in three months that AI pilots are facing criticism for inviting a female friend to the flight deck during flight operations. On February 27, 2023, during the operation of the Dubai-Delhi flight, the pilots called a friend into the cockpit.
In this case, the DGCA suspended the flying license of the pilot-in-command for three months and imposed a fine of Rs 30 lakh on Air India for not taking prompt action. The regulator also directed the airline to take “administrative action” against the friend-traveller who was traveling as an employee on duty.SOD), which includes “removing him from any managerial functions in the organization for a specified period”.
The Leh incident was immediately reported by AI to DGCA. On the issue, an AI spokesperson had earlier said: “Air India has a judicious approach to all safety related incidents and has zero tolerance for willful violations of rules. Such violations are dealt with on serious grounds and those flouting the rules will be banned.
Watch Two Air India pilots suspended for inviting female friend into cockpit