Jet Airways pilot racially abused man, assaulted lady: Harbhajan Singh

Mumbai, April 26

An expat pilot with Jet Airways hurled “racist” comments at and physically assaulted a lady on a flight, cricketer Harbhajan Singh claimed on Wednesday.

Stating that the pilot also abused a physically challenged man, Singh termed the incident as “disgraceful” and demanded strict action against the person concerned.

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Expressing regret over the incident, Jet Airways said corrective action would be taken as per company policy, and after due investigation.

The pilot concerned remains de-rostered since the day of the incident, the airline said.

The cricketer was referring to the incident that took place aboard a Chandigarh-Mumbai Jet Airways flight on April 6.

Harbhajan, however told PTI, that he was not on the flight. He said he learnt of the incident through an acquaintance.

“We are proud Indians, not ‘bloody Indians’... I don’t need apology, I want this captain to be out of India so no one dare to (sic) call us bloody Indians,” Singh told PTI.

“So called this Bernd Hoesslin a pilot with @jetairways called my fellow Indian (u bloody indian get out of my flight) while he is earning here,” Singh said in a series of tweets.

Strict action must b taken &such things should not be allowed or tolerated in r country.. #proudtobeindian let's get together and sort this

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) April 26, 2017

So called this Bernd Hoesslin a pilot with @jetairways called my fellow indian(u bloody indian get out of my flight)while he is earning here

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) April 26, 2017

“Not only was he racist, but physically assaulted a lady and abused a physically challenged man... absolutely disgraceful and shame on @jetairways,” the cricketer said.

Demanding that strict action be taken and such things not be allowed or tolerated in the country, Singh tweeted “#proudtobeindian let’s get together and sort this”.

The tweets from Singh also come at a time when Jet Airways’ local pilots body NAG has raised concerns about the behaviour of expat pilots at the airline.

Last week, the National Aviators Guild (NAG) had said the carrier is treating Indian pilots in a “step-motherly” manner compared to their expat counterparts on the rolls.

Demanding swift action against alleged racist approach of the expat pilots at the airline, the guild had called for disallowing such pilots in the cockpit.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

NAG has also asked its members not to fly with the expats in the cockpit after one of the foreign pilots allegedly assaulted a trainer in Bengaluru recently.

Jet Airways has nearly 60 expat commanders, who mainly operate its Boeing 737 and ATR fleet.

In response to NAG’s allegations, the airline last week said it has a strict and common code for employees. — PTI