DGCA takes back plaint against pilots

New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation on Thursday withdrew a police complaint filed against 34 pilots for sharing obscene messages on WhatsApp against a senior DGCA official.

The move came hours after the government described as “unfortunate” the confrontation between DGCA’s joint chief Lalit Gupta and a group of pilots over alleged abusive language used against the officer on social media as well as reported action against a few pilots for getting Mr Gupta’s designation wrong.

Earlier in the day, minister of state for civil aviation Jayant Sinha said that the government was working to resolve the issue. This came after pilot unions complained to the government. Speculation is rife that the government may have nudged the DGCA to bring about peace between the warring sides. DGCA sources, however, said the concerned airlines (to which the pilots belonged) and some of the pilots had apologised to the DGCA, with the parents of some of the pilots too requesting the DGCA to resolve the issue, following which the complaint was withdrawn.

DGCA sources on Thursday said, “DGCA had filed complaint  against certain pilots for making obscene remarks against DGCA officials on social media on 6th June. In the meantime, concerned airlines and the pilots involved have expressed regret on the issue. Airlines have also informed to put in place SOPs on the issue and sensitise their personnel in this regard. Some of the  parents of concerned pilots have met in DGCA and requested for solution so as not to impact their careers adversely. In view of all above, DGCA has withdrawn the complaint filed in this regard.”