After the “illegal termination” of 50 pilots in a night, Air India pilots have sought the intervention of the management on the issue.
The Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA), in a letter to Air India Chairman and Managing Director Rajiv Bansal on Friday, said that around 50 pilots have received illegal termination letters from the Personnel Department in blatant violation of company’s operation manual and service rules.
“What’s happening? Around 50 of our pilots have been terminated overnight unceremoniously without proper procedure being followed. A rude shock for those who served the nation in this pandemic putting the nation first,” a tweet by the ICPA said.
The ICPA, in its letter to Air India CMD, further said that pilots who tendered their resignation letters as far back as July 2019 but withdrew them well within the mandatory six months notice period have been relieved from service suddenly from 10 pm on Thursday.
The ICPA further said that several Southern Base crew contract is not being renewed after they have completed five years.
“A total of 18 cabin crew have been terminated in the southern region and this is the first round with threw crew from Calicut terminated,” the ICPA said.
The pilots have further alleged that the crew were not informed of the acceptance of resignation and therefore by extension, the commencement of any notice period.
“For the safety of the travelling public alone if not on humanitarian grounds these pilots should not have been made to operate flights under such traumatic circumstances,” the ICPA further said.
“This vengeful exercise carried out by the Personnel Department to illegally terminate pilots compromises the safety of our flights,” it added.