Air India pilot suspended for flying an unauthorised person in cockpit, misbehaving with air hostess

New Delhi: A senior Air India pilot has been suspended for reported flying a 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.

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 or airline staff.


The customs officer was allowed to travel in the cockpit by the pilot. A cabin crew member objected to this which led to a heated argument between the two.

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The pilot allegedly then made some "indecent comment" at the airhostess.

After reaching Delhi the airhostess filed a complaint with the police against the pilot.

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