AI pilots seek better compensation for COVID-19 deaths

IPG demands compensation schemes in case of death that are on a par with other PSUs, private airlines

They have been on the front line of the country’s battle against COVID-19 while transporting masks, ventilators, vaccines, international aid as well as repatriating stranded Indians from around the world, and while doing so they have lost many colleagues in the line of duty. Air India’s pilots have now written to the management expressing their despair at the lack of a suitable compensation scheme during illness or death accusing it of “indifference and borderline neglect”. Captain Amitesh Prasad operated a San Francisco to Bangalore flight on April 15. On his arrival, he began to complain of COVID-19 like symptoms. Five days later, his test results confirmed the infection. Over the next 20 days, he fought for his life in a Mumbai hospital but eventually lost his battle. A pilot friend, who didn’t want to be identified, said his family was likely to be handed over a cheque of ₹10 lakh, which is paltry. The airline had introduced the scheme last year for deaths due to COVID-19.