Air India crisis: PMO says it is not in favour of sacking the pilots

New Delhi: The Prime Minister's Office on Tuesday said that it wanted the Civil Aviation Ministry to sort out the ongoing crisis at Air India "amicably" and that it was not in favour of sacking the striking pilots.

Sources of the PMO said, "The PMO wants the Civil Aviation Ministry to come to a solution as soon as possible. The issue should be sorted amicably."

They added, "The PMO is not in favour of sacking the pilots."

Sources close to the PMO said it wanted the Civil Aviation Ministry to resolve the situation amicably and soon enough.

The Aviation Ministry had recently said it was considering sacking all 440 striking pilots of the Indian Pilots' Guild. Aviation Minister Ajit Singh said it was up to the Airline management to take strict action.

"It is for the Air India management to take action now. These pilots have been off duty for more than 30 days. It is an illegal strike, they have defied the High Court, we have requested them to come back to work. Now it is up to the management to decide till when they can keep these pilots on their payroll," Ajit Singh said.

The pilots went on a mass sick leave, adamant that they would not return to work till 101 of their colleagues, who were sacked, were taken back.

The Air India management is yet to take a final call.

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