The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Thursday withdrew its police complaint filed against 34 pilots of private airlines for alleged “obscene” conversations on a WhatsApp chat group. The air safety regulator’s change of heart came after parents of the pilots concerned met officials and urged the regulator to withdraw the case as it would “adversely impact” their careers.
“Concerned airlines and pilots involved have expressed regret on the issue. Airlines have also informed to put in place SOPs [standard operating procedures] on the issue and sensitise their personnel in this regard. Some parents of pilots have met [officials] in DGCA and requested for solution so as not to impact their careers adversely,” DGCA spokesperson Lalit Gupta, who had filed the police complaint, said in a statement.
“In view of all the above, the DGCA has withdrawn the complaint,” Mr. Gupta added.
Summoned by DGCA
The DGCA had filed a police complaint on Monday against 34 pilots of SpiceJet, Jet Airways, GoAir and IndiGo for allegedly abusing Mr. Gupta and his family members in a private conversation between them on a WhatsApp chat group. Based on the complaint, 13 pilots were summoned by the DGCA who were taken to Delhi’s Lodhi Road police station for questioning. However, the Delhi police had not filed an FIR in the case.
Apology offered
Airline executives reached out to the DGCA following the incident and had offered apology to its official. The ongoing tension between the DGCA and pilots began after the civil aviation regulator proposed regulation to increase notice period for airline commanders quitting their jobs from six months to one year. This had upset the pilots some of whom wrote to the DGCA opposing the move.
