Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Friday suspended an Air India pilot for allowing a female friend to enter and stay in the cockpit during a flight from Dubai to Delhi, while a fine of Rs 30 lakh was slapped on the airliner, NDTV reported.
The incident had happened in February, and DGCA took the action for safety norms violation.
"The pilot in command of the flight allowed the entry into cockpit during cruise, of an Air India Staff on duty travelling as passenger, in violation of DGCA regulations," said the report quoted DGCA statement.
“Air India did not take prompt corrective action despite this being a ‘safety sensitive violation’,” the report DGCA as having said.
Advertisement
"Air India has been fined Rs 30 lakhs for not promptly and effectively addressing the safety sensitive issue. The pilot License of the PIC has been suspended for a period of three months for misuse of his authority vested under the Aircraft Rules 1937 and allowing violation of the applicable DGCA regulations. The Copilot has been warned for not being assertive in preventing the violation," the DGCA said as per the report.
Unauthorised people are not allowed to enter the cockpit and any such entry is in violation of norms.
Earlier, the regulator had derostered the entire crew pending the investigation, the report said.
