NEW DELHI: THE Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Tuesday filed a complaint with the Delhi Police against a group of pilots for allegedly abusing a top DGCA official on a closed WhatsApp group. According to sources, the DGCA has said 34 pilots were a part of the WhatsApp group but only a dozen of them allegedly made the ‘objectionable’ comments.
The DGCA has also filed a complaint against those who forwarded the messages to another group.
According to the Delhi Police, so far 13 pilots have been questioned in the case in the Lodhi Road police station but no arrest has been made as no FIR has been filed as yet. Sources in the Delhi Police claimed that they are obtaining legal opinion on the sections under which the pilots can be booked, as messages were sent on a closed group.
“We have received a complaint from the DGCA and we are conducting an enquiry, so far no arrest has been made and no case has been filed,” said Chinmoy Biswal additional DCP, south.
A SpiceJet spokesperson said: “No SpiceJet pilot has written any derogatory or obscene message against any DGCA official or made any comments on the draft DGCA CAR. One of our pilots had just forwarded some WhatsApp messages to a few friends and colleagues.”
Jet Airways has said some of its pilots have been called to record their statements by the police.
“Jet Airways confirms that a few of its cockpit crew were called to record their statements by local authorities in response to a complaint. The airline is extending full co-operation to the authorities. The matter is under investigation and we are therefore unable to comment further. Jet Airways will take appropriate measures where necessary as per the company policy and in compliance with local law,” the airline said in a statement. Delhi Police had called 10 pilots of Jet Airways to investigate the case on Tuesday.