spiceJet grounds its pilot for 'smoking' in the cockpit

Mumbai, Jan 25 (UNI) A pilot from the low-cost carrier, SpiceJet was taken off duty by the airline after he was found smoking in the cockpit.

The incident took place early this month, when pilot Capt Benerjee was found smoking in the cockpit by the co-pilot of the Hyderbad-Bangalore-Goa flight, SG 254 at Bangalore.

According to sources, the pilot had escaped frisking and managed to smuggle cigarettes in the cockpit.

However, CISF officials, managing the security at Bangalore denied this allegation. A senior CISF official said, ''It was a transit flight from Hyderabad to Goa via Bangalore and as the pilot remained in the aircraft, there is no question of his escaping frisking here.'' When contacted in this regard, Airline's Chairman and Managing Director, Siddhant Sharma confirmed the incident and said that the matter is being probed.

''After the case was brought to our notice, we grounded the erring pilot and the matter is being investigated,'' Mr Sharma told UNI today.

Last October, a Kingfisher Airlines pilot was grounded for three months after being caught drunk at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi.

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