Air India co-pilot gets clean chit

A committee of state-run carrier Air India probing the midair scuffle among its staff Oct 3 Friday termed the allegations of misbehaviour levelled by an air hostess against a co-pilot as “baseless”.

A committee of state-run carrier Air India probing the midair scuffle among its staff Oct 3 Friday termed the allegations of misbehaviour levelled by an air hostess against a co-pilot as “baseless”.

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“The air hostess has been issued a charge sheet for violation of the conduct rules and for not complying with the company policy,” an Air India spokesperson told IANS, referring to the probe findings.

“She will be asked to explain her position.”

The incident between air hostess Komal Singh and co-pilot Aditya Chopra broke out on board Sharjah-Lucknow-Delhi flight IC-884 Oct 3, when it was on its first leg.

Singh then levelled charges of sexual harassment against the co-pilot with the police in New Delhi a few days later.

“She did not raise the issue of sexual harassment during the internal inquiry, nor did she register her complaint while at Lucknow and Delhi airport,” the spokesperson said.

“Instead, she complained to the police. It was an after-thought.”

The state-run airline grounded the pilots and the cabin crew after the Delhi Police registered a case of molestation against the pilots on the complaint filed by the air hostess.

The president of Indian Commercial Pilot's Association, Shailendra Singh, backed the pilots saying they were not at fault, adding no person can barge into the cockpit and pick up a fight.

The National Commission for Women also formed a panel to probe the charges of assault levelled by the air hostess against the two pilots.