Indian air regulator the directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) has filed a police complaint against dozens of pilots from four Indian airlines for ‘making obscene remarks" against a senior regulatory official.
In an unusual move, the DGCA reported 34 pilots who are employed by Jet Airways, GoAir, SpiceJet and IndiGo.
All pilots are members of a WhatsApp group.
They were accused of circulating an abusive message targeting a senior official.
It came to light when one of the pilots sent the message to the official by mistake.
A total of 13 pilots were summoned for questions at a police station where they were held for several hours.
The airlines have unconditionally apologised to the joint DG who was targeted.
Each airline will conduct its own internal investigation.
"We are looking into the charges… We will take appropriate action based on findings of our internal inquiry," said IndiGo spokesman Ajay Jasra.
"The matter is under investigation and we are therefore unable to comment," a Jet Airways statement said.
The incident is in fact a continuation of bad feeling between the joint DG and pilots, after the official proposed doubling the minimum notice period for pilots to leave employment in a bid to combat crew shortages.
