Another Air India pilot is in hot water.
The senior pilot has been grounded for allegedly stealing a wallet from a Sydney Airport duty free store.
Rohit Bhasin was suspended pending a full investigation.
He is not only a senior pilot but also the airline’s regional director,for the eastern region.
The wallet was a new product sold in the store.
An Air India spokesman said Bhasin was accused failig to pay for the wallet and was formally suspended on arrival in India.
Bhasin admitted the ‘mistake’ of not paying as he had just been given the good news he had just become a grandfather.
The wallet was to be a present for his daughter-in-law who had just given birth, he said.
Air India released details of the suspension order to the media.
"It has been reported by regional manager Australasia that you allegedly committed an act of shoplifting from a duty free shop at Sydney airport before the departure of flight AI301. Without prejudice to any disciplinary action to be initiated against you and pending enquiry, you are hereby placed under suspension with immediate effect," it said.
Bhasin’s wife and son are also pilots employed at Air India.
