Kolkata: Air India pilots strike work in Kolkata after security personnel allegedly beat up a senior pilot. They say they won't operate from Kolkata till they are assured of security.
President ICPA, Captain R Khiangte said, "We are not striking work, we are not reporting for work right now because of this incident. But there are other pilots who can take over."
CISF officials say that it was the pilot who first beat up the sub-inspector when he was asked not to bring a large bag into the cabin.' They also claim to have eyewitnesses and video footage to prove their statement.
The Air India pilot was allegedly beaten up by Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel at Kolkata airport on Tuesday which delayed a flight to Bagdogra by two hours.
The incident occurred when the CISF personnel allegedly raised objections to the size of the pilot's baggage, which led to a verbal fight, airline sources in New Delhi said.
"The problem occurred at the security checking point over the dimension or weight of the pilot's baggage with the CISF. There was difference of opinion between the CISF personnel and the pilot. The pilot was heckled by them," said an Air India official.
"CISF personnel used derogatory words and called the pilot a 'driver'. The pilot Capt M K Singh was extremely shocked at this behaviour and considering his agitated state of mind he did not fly. Instead another pilot took the charge of that aeroplane," the official said.
There were three to four CISF officials allegedly involved in the scuffle.
The Bagdogra flight IC 721, which the pilot was rostered to fly, was scheduled to take off from Dum Dum Airport at 1.30 p.m. The flight got delayed by two hours.
No other flight disruption occurred due to this incident, the official confirmed.
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