Air India Pilot Allows Woman Friend Into Cockpit Against Rules, Probe Launched

In violation of safety regulations, an Air India pilot was accused of allowing a woman companion to enter and remain in the cockpit during a flight from Dubai to Delhi in February. India's aviation authority has demanded a thorough investigation into the incident.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) stated on Friday that a probe into the situation was underway and relevant data would be examined. Under the condition of anonymity, a senior DGCA official told ANI that "the act violates aviation regulator DGCA safety norms."

The official claimed that immediately after takeoff on February 27 from Dubai, the pilot requested his woman acquaintance, who was a passenger on the same flight, to join him in the cockpit. According to the official, the woman stayed there for the entirety of the journey, which was roughly three hours.

The official claimed that the pilot's conduct not only violated security but also created a distraction that might have jeopardised the flight's and its passengers' safety. According to the official, the pilot might be subject to punishment, such as having his license suspended or revoked, depending on how the investigation turns out.

Pilot Allows Woman Friend Into Cockpit

On February 27, the incident happened on board flight AI915 from Delhi to Dubai. The complaint claimed that the pilot-in-command broke the rules by bringing a female passenger from economy class into the cockpit, whom he claimed to be a friend. Because the passenger had not completed a breathalyzer test, the concerned crew member initially expressed concern that this would be against DGCA regulations.

The flight's captain had previously requested an upgrade for his friend from economy to business class, but the cabin supervisor had informed him that this was not possible because business class was already full.

The pilot also requested that his companion be given snacks and alcohol in the cockpit. The complainant protested this and stated that she did not feel secure providing alcohol in the cockpit. According to the crew member, this allegedly caused the captain's entire demeanour to shift, and from that point on the trip, he was unpleasant to the particular crew member.

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According to the filed complaint, the woman passenger spent about an hour in the pilot's seat, where she was given business-class meals and snacks on the pilot-in-command's orders. Another passenger in the first row of the flight reportedly asked if the former was a pilot or passenger after noticing the former's prolonged presence in the cockpit.

The crew member who made the complaint claimed she proceeded to the cockpit and found the co-pilot or first officer fully reclined and sound asleep with a pillow, while the captain was conversing with his female companion while facing the rear observer station. According to reports, Air India addressed the situation and stated that they were contributing to the investigations.