An Air India pilot was de-rostered for six months for allowing a friend inside the cockpit of a Delhi-Leh flight, in violation of safety norms, earlier this month, officials familiar with the matter said on Thursday.
Initially, two pilots were taken off duty as the airline began its probe into the incident on June 3. A thorough investigation subsequently revealed that only senior pilot, Captain Rahul Singh, was culpable for the lapses, the officials said. No action was initiated against the second pilot as he was not found guilty, they said.
According to an official, who did not wish to be named, Captain Singh had allowed a helicopter pilot, who was travelling as a passenger, inside the cockpit of flight AI 445 after it took off from Delhi on June 3. The matter was reported by a male crew upon returning to Delhi.
