6 IndiGo pilots under DGCA lens for clicking pics in cockpit

Six pilots of IndiGo have come under the scanner of aviation regulator DGCA for allegedly taking pictures in the cockpit with family members. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is probing the matter, following a complaint filed by an individual.

The alleged incident, in which family members of some IndiGo pilots posed for photographs inside the cockpit, amounts to unauthorised access to the cockpit which violates aviation safety norms. It took place late last year.

Bengaluru-based Alok Narula had filed the complaint and in response to an RTI application filed by Narula related to the issue, DGCA said, “the matter is under investigation”. DGCA officials were not immediately available for comments.

“We have learned that our flight crew have been probed against a case of cockpit access violation by the regulator.

“As per the AIC (Aeronautical Information Circular) 7 (2004) -- it does not specifically bar bonafide passengers to take pictures inside the aircraft,” an IndiGo spokesperson said.

According to her, in the said cases, the passengers accessed the flight deck at the end of the flight with the permission of the flight crew, which is in-line with the IndiGo operations manual.

“The IndiGo operations manual is an approved document by the DGCA. For the in-flight cases, the matter is being investigated by the regulator,” the spokesperson said, adding that at no time safety can be compromised.