Over 50 Air India (AI) pilots, including several commanders deployed on international routes, have been declared temporarily unfit by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation(DGCA) or have fallen sick throwing many international flights out of gear during the year-end, when the demand for air travel is at its peak.
A senior pilot with AI (International) said that some pilots have reported sick as they have not taken leave for quite some time.
AI has around 430 pilots flying wide-bodied planes on international routes. They include 120 commanders, 150 executive pilots and 160 co-pilots. Thirteen of these commanders still remain suspended since May for spearheading the month-long agitation.
26/12/12 India Today
