Jet pilot in racism row seeks ₹97 crore in damages

German Bernd Hosselin sends legal notices to airline, two passengers over row at city airport

June 17, 2017 12:55 am | Updated 12:55 am IST

Mumbai: A Jet Airways pilot accused of racial discrimination by two passengers in April has sought $15 million (approx. ₹97 crore) in damages from the duo, cricketer Harbhajan Singh who tweeted in their support, and the airline.

Bernd Hosselin, a German national, has since had to leave India as his Foreign Aircrew Temporary Authorisation (FATA), mandatory for foreign pilots, was revoked. Mr. Hosselin was accused of making racist comments by film producer Pooja Gujral and music composer-singer Jatinder Singh Shah. Mr. Singh, who is their friend, tweeted demanding action against the pilot. A defamation notice seeking damages was sent to all three through city-based law firm DSK Legal on Friday. The notice also seeks remedial action from Jet Airways, which has since terminated his services.

Samit Shukla, the lawyer representing Mr. Hosselin, told The Hindu that while the notices to Ms. Gujral, Mr. Shah and Mr. Singh called for a public apology and sought damages, another legal notice sent to Jet Airways sought remedial measures in regard to his services being terminated by the airline. In the notice to Jet Airways, Mr. Hosselin has claimed that he was asked to leave despite repeated assurances from senior airline officials absolving him of wrongdoing. The notice said airline officials said he had acted in accordance with guidelines laid down by Jet and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

The notice claims Mr. Hosselin, who joined the aircraft in Mumbai for its onward journey to Chennai on April 3, objected to Mr. Shah’s personal wheelchair inside the aircraft at Ms. Gujral’s insistence. Observing that safety was being compromised as the aircraft was refuelling, Mr. Hosselin, who was responsible for the plane’s safety, intervened and requested Ms. Gujral to move the personal wheelchair to the aerobridge.

It alleges that Ms. Gujral argued with Mr. Hosselin, before accusing him of being racist and getting Harbhajan Singh to support her. Instead of prosecuting the passenger duo and Mr. Singh for being unruly and disruptive, Jet Airways sacked him, hence the decision to serve all parties concerned with legal notices.

Mr. Singh, who is in London, said he was yet to receive a notice. Ms. Gujral too said she was yet to receive a notice but stuck to her side of the story. “I don’t know how to react to this. If his conscience allows him to do this, what can I say?”. She added that it was strange the pilot had sought to initiate legal action given Jet Airways had organised a meeting between them at the Sahar police station, where Mr. Hosselin had apologised to her.

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