Consider reinstating pilot who hit airport compound during take off, Madras HC directs Air India

In his affidavit, the pilot stated that he had an accident-free flying experience of 4,270 hours till October 11, 2018

The Madras High Court has directed Air India Express Limited to take an appropriate decision on reinstating in service a pilot who was flying a Dubai-bound passenger flight which damaged the compound wall of the Tiruchi airport and hit the Instrument Landing System (ILS) antenna while taking off on October 11, 2018.

Justice R. Mahadevan issued the direction while disposing of a writ petition filed by the pilot against orders passed by the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation and Director General of Civil Aviation in October 2018 suspending his licence for a period of three years for having flown the plane towards Dubai even after the accident.

The judge agreed with the petitioner’s counsel S. Haja Mohideen Gisthi that the DGCA ought to have issued a show cause notice before suspending the licence. Nevertheless, since the suspension period had already expired, he directed Air India to consider, within four weeks, the pilot’s plea to reinstate him in service.