×
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Plaint against 34 pilots for obscene messages

After DGCA report, police question 13 pilots on Tuesday
Last Updated : 06 June 2017, 19:33 IST
Last Updated : 06 June 2017, 19:33 IST

Follow Us :

Comments

The aviation watchdog  Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)  has filed a police complaint against 34 pilots of Jet Airways, IndiGo, SpiceJet and GoAir for reportedly posting “obscene” messages on a WhatsApp group against its officials.

Acting on the complaint, the Delhi Police on Tuesday questioned 13 pilots. It is rare for the DGCA to file police complaint against pilots and in this instance, regulatory officials said some of the messages put out in a WhatsApp group were “really obscene”.

DGCA Director General B S Bhullar confirmed that the regulator has filed the complaint against 34 pilots of Jet Airways, IndiGo, SpiceJet and GoAir. “Any action on that is for the police,” Bhullar told PTI.

On whether any disciplinary action would be initiated against the pilots, Bhullar said it was up to the airlines to decide on whether to take action or not.

Sources said some of the “obscene messages” on the WhatsApp group were also put out on the social media.
A DGCA official said some pilots from the said airlines created a WhatsApp group and some content shared on it was “offensive and abusive”.

Unconditional apology
The official also said that unconditional apology has come from the airlines’ managements. Earlier in the day, many of the pilots, including 10 from Jet Airways, were questioned at the Lodhi Colony police station here.

“The pilots have been called in for questioning on the basis of a complaint by the DGCA. They have been called in for an inquiry,” a senior police official said.

Thirteen pilots have been questioned, the official added.

A Jet Airways spokesperson said that a few of its cockpit crew were called to record their statements by local authorities in response to a complaint and the airline is extending its full cooperation to the authorities.

“The matter is under investigation and we are therefore unable to comment further. Jet Airways will take appropriate measures where necessary, as per the company policy and in compliance with local law,” the spokesperson said.

An IndiGo spokesperson said appropriate action would be taken after an internal enquiry into the matter. “We are looking into the charges and extending full cooperation to the DGCA in this matter,” he said. A SpiceJet spokesperson said no pilot of the airline has written any derogatory or obscene message against any DGCA official or made any comment on the draft DGCA Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR). “One of our pilots had just forwarded some

WhatsApp messages to a few friends and colleagues,” he added.

GoAir said that “only one” of its pilots has been named in the complaint and the issue was “closed” now after the airline filed an unconditional apology along with the other three private carriers.

Last month, the regulator proposed norms that would require notice period of one year for captains and six months for co-pilots.

This draft CAR has been opposed by most of the pilots’ groupings.

ADVERTISEMENT
Published 06 June 2017, 19:33 IST

Deccan Herald is on WhatsApp Channels| Join now for Breaking News & Editor's Picks

Follow us on :

Follow Us

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT