Air India pilot suspended

Captain Amar Sabharwal carried an unauthorised person in the cockpit on a Delhi-Kolkata flight on March 2

A senior Air India pilot has been suspended for allegedly flying an unauthorised person in the cockpit and misbehaving with an air hostess, who later filed a complaint against him.

Captain Amar Sabharwal has been suspended for carrying an unauthorised person in the cockpit on a Delhi-Kolkata flight on March 2, in violation of security norms, an Air India spokesperson said.

According to sources, the incident happened on Air India's flight (AI-020) on Saturday last when a customs officer entered the plane with a boarding pass of a jump seat. But, he was later allowed to travelled in the cockpit by the Commander, to which a cabin crew objected.     

This led to an heated argument between the Commander and the cabin crew.

The pilot allegedly made some "indecent comment" on the airhostess, they said, adding after returning to Delhi the airhostess filed a complaint with the police against the pilot.

Taking a serious note of the incident, Air India management first derostered the pilot and he was taken off duty and an enquiry was ordered into the matter.

A jump seat can be located in the cockpit or passenger cabin of an aircraft. In the cockpit, it is provided for individuals who are not operating the plane which may include trainee pilots, off-duty crew members, DGCA officials or airline staff.