AI orders probe after pilot refuses to operate flight without woman co-pilot

National carrier Air India on Thursday ordered an inquiry into an incident, in which a commander allegedly refused to operate a flight from the Chennai airport without a particular woman co-pilot. 

The company will neither “condone” nor “tolerate” such acts, Air India chairman and managing director Ashwani Lohani said in a statement issued on Thursday.

As many as 110 passengers onboard the airline’s flight from Chennai for Male via Thiruvananthapuram were made to wait for over two hours at the Chennai airport on Wednesday morning, after the commander allegedly insisted for the particular woman pilot to operate the aircraft with him.

“On the issue of the recent incident on (Air India flight) AI 263 from Chennai to Male via Thiruvananthapuram, where the pilot refused to fly without a particular co-pilot, the airline has taken a strong view on the matter and has ordered an immediate inquiry into it,” Air India’s chairman said.

“The airline has suffered enough because of such stray and repeated cases of indiscipline,” he said, adding that the Air India would neither condone nor tolerate such acts.

“I have directed all such cases be brought to my notice immediately and strict action to be taken,” Lohani added.