US warns AI over smuggling by cabin crew

The United States Customs and the Border Patrol has warned the national carrier Air India that it will cancel the visas of crew caught smuggling goods into the country.

The United States Customs and the Border Patrol has warned the national carrier Air India that it will cancel the visas of crew caught smuggling goods into the country.

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The warning came after 13 cabin-crew personnel were caught at the JFK airport in less than a month for smuggling cigarettes. On Wednesday, HT accessed an email issued by the airline about the warning.

Captain DX Pais, joint GM (customer service), on October 3 wrote to flight attendants that the airline’s local office in the US had received complaints of crew indulging in illegal activities by importing banned or illegal articles for sale in the US. Pais’ email also raised the issue of embarrassment caused to the airline and the country. “As an ambassador of the airline, cabin crew are expected to uphold its prestige, honour and dignity and refrain from these activities henceforth,” the email stated.

An AI spokesperson confirmed the development. “We have ordered an internal inqu-iry,” the spokesperson said.