AI pilot in dock for 'beating up' woman

Already stuck with worries of reviving a loss making airline, national carrier Air India (AI) faced a latest embarrassment it could easily do without. Tushar Srivastava reports.

Already stuck with worries of reviving a loss making airline, national carrier Air India (AI) faced a latest embarrassment it could easily do without. A senior pilot of the airline was cornered on charges of misdemeanour involving a mystery woman in a five star hotel in the city recently.

HT Image

The security staff of the south Delhi hotel broke open the pilot's room, paid for by AI, after a woman's cries for help were heard from inside.

Guests in nearby rooms informed the hotel staff that at 1.50am they could "hear someone call for help," amid "sounds of breaking of glass". The room was opened using a master key as nobody responded to repeated knocks on the door.

Since the pilot's accommodation was being paid for by AI, the hotel informed the airline about the incident that happened during the night of July 4-5. The hotel's note to AI, accessed by HT, said the security staff could "hear the pilot arguing aggressively with a lady in his room".

AI has asked the Captain, an office bearer of ICPA (an association of airline pilots), for a written explanation.

"He has a lot of explaining to do," a top AI official said.

"We are inquiring into the matter," an AI spokesperson said.

Sources said while the woman failed to provide even a single piece of identification, the pilot was requested to have either his guest registered or vacate the hotel premises.

The woman left the hotel after that.