Spicejet pilot makes airhostess sit in cockpit with him, sacked

Budget carrier SpiceJet has terminated the services of a commander for allegedly making an airhostess sit in the cockpit with him and asking the co-pilot to sit out during one of its flights to Bangkok from Kolkata and back.

The pilot-in-command has been sacked for violating aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation's safety norms after following due process, SpiceJet said in a statement.

As per air safety rules of the DGCA, no other person is allowed entry into the cockpit other than the DGCA officials and the officials nominated by it.

The sacked commander reportedly not only allowed the airhostess to occupy his seat but also used some ‘abusive’ language against the cabin crew chief that led her to file an official complaint with SpiceJet.

"With respect to the present case, we wish to inform you that we have internal complaint committee in place which is mandated by The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (prevention, prohibition and redressal) Act, 2013," SpiceJet said in its statement.

The airline initiated inquiry process as per the guidelines laid in the said Act, it said, adding the inquiry process has been concluded subsequently, the services of the pilot has been terminated.

"The case has been informed to DGCA by our flight safety department and their inquiry is also on," SpiceJet said.