India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has ordered a detailed investigation after an Air India pilot operating from Dubai to Delhi entertained a female friend in the cockpit.
The pilot’s actions were not only a breach of security but also a distraction that could have compromised the safety of the flight and its passengers, according to a senior DGCA official.
The official said that the pilot invited his female friend, who was travelling as a passenger on the same flight, to join him in the cockpit shortly after takeoff from Dubai on February 27. The woman remained there for the duration of the flight, which lasted about three hours.
The DGCA said on Friday that it was conducting an inquiry into the matter and would examine the relevant facts. “The act violates aviation regulator DGCA safety norms,” the official said.
The pilot could face disciplinary action, including suspension or cancellation of his licence, depending on the outcome of the investigation. Air India is yet to comment on the incident.
This incident is the latest involving Air India flights in recent months. On April 18, a Delhi-bound Air India flight asked for a priority landing at Delhi Airport after a suspected windshield crack. The flight, which originated from Pune, landed normally, and no one was injured.
On March 12, an Air India flight from Amritsar to Delhi made an emergency landing at Jaipur airport after one of its engines failed mid-air. The flight had 179 passengers on board, who were safely evacuated.
Earlier, on February 15, an Air India flight from Mumbai to Newark was diverted to London after a bomb threat was received by email. The threat turned out to be a hoax, and the flight resumed its journey after security checks.
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