The pilot of an Air India flight allegedly assaulted his colleague minutes before the flight was scheduled for take-off from Chennai on Saturday morning.
The incident resulted in a delay in the departure of the flight by nearly two hours. It finally took off with another pilot in charge.
Airport sources said the Air India flight, AI 143 Chennai-Delhi-Paris, was to depart for Delhi at 9.45 a.m. Captain Maniklal Sanghi and AI flight engineer V.P. Kannan had an argument and, in the fracas, Mr. Sanghi allegedly assaulted Mr. Kannan, who suffered injuries and had to be taken to a nearby hospital.
Quoting eyewitnesses, an airline staff said, “Mr. Sanghi and engineer Kannan had an argument inside the cockpit over the delay in the flight’s departure, following which the pilot assaulted the engineer.” The engineer was seen bleeding from his nose, he added.
The flight, which was carrying 118 passengers, left at 11.40 a.m. to Delhi with Captain Krishnakumar taking over as pilot. When contacted, an Air India official said, “The management is going to investigate the matter and take further action. Captain Maniklal Sanghi will not be able to fly until the investigation is complete.”
An FIR has been filed at the Airport police station in connection with the incident.
The incident resulted in a delay in the departure of the flight to Delhi by nearly
two hours
