After purser's death, AI crew blame stress

Mumbai: It was an opportunity of a lifetime for Avinash Mhatre (54) to be a part of a ferry flight, bringing in a new aircraft to join the existing fleet of a company. But it turned out to be a fatal ride for this Air India (AI) staffer.Mhatre was on his way from Hamburg to Mumbai when he died of a heart attack on Wednesday evening.
A day after his death, Mhatre's family said he was fit enough to take flight. While Mhatre's family kept silent on the circumstances that might have led to the heart attack, most crewmembers, who knew him as a “very jovial and fit person”, pointed at a “greater malaise”—work stress.
“Fatigue is gripping most of the cabin crew due to the shortage of staff,'' said a crewmember on condition of anonymity. “The policy has been to cut down on the number of cabin crew staff. However, with a rise in the number of flights, the burden is on the existing staffers,'' she added.The crewmembers also said the company had not recruited more staff to meet the mounting work pressure.
“They want smiling faces on flights. How do I smile when I am piled with so much work?'' asked another cabin staffer. “Due to stress factors, several crewmembers are developing high-blood pressure, migraine and back problems early in life,'' she added.
Though Mhatre's family refused to comment on the issue, those close to him told TOI that he was contemplating voluntary retirement, not because of medical reasons, but because he was “weary of consistent fatigue and internal politics'' taking prominence. “We undergo check-ups regularly and his diagnosis had shown no disorder or ailment,'' said a crewmember.
21/06/08 Chinmayi Shalya/Times of India

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Categories: Air India - International Jun 2008, Careers Jun 2008, Foreign Jun 2008, NACIL Jun 2008