New Delhi: In a shocking incident of brazen abuse of power, a batchmate of the Air India Chairman and Managing Director Rohit Nandan was upgraded to first class on an international flight.
According to a letter sent by a whistleblower to the Civil Aviation Secretary Som Sundaram on November 1, 2014, a passenger - Joint Secretary in the Heavy Industries Ministry Ashok Pavadia - on flight AI 120 on the sector Frankfurt/Delhi, was illegally upgraded to First Class and assigned seat 1D.
When the crew inquired with the ground staff, they were informed that they had been instructed by the CMD to upgrade Pavadia, an IRTS officer, to First Class at any cost. When the crew informed the ground staff that the said seat was already allotted to another passenger, the Ground Staff told the crew that Pavadia was the CMD's batchmate and had to be upgraded 'at any cost'.
To add more shame to the case, to accommodate Pavadia in the first class, a genuine Star Alliance Member was downgraded to Executive class. Other First Class passengers were reportedly unhappy with the situation on the ground.
Pavadia's behaviour, too, was not up-to the mark. He had constantly sought attention from the crew and kept on asking for certain food items which were not on the menu and demanded to know why those items were not on board.
An embarrassed crew had to cut a very sorry figure with the other First Class passengers due to Pavadia's conduct.
Another incident which also has an implication on Flight Safety of the flight, a passenger - the daughter of the Commander and the ED-CS Ms. Harpreet Singh - on flight AI 191 was taken onto the flight on Jump Seat as all passenger seats were occupied. For take off, rest and landing she was illegally allowed to sit in the cabin crew horizontal rest area by the CIC.
On seeing her there, other passengers too, asked if they could be shifted but their requests were denied. The passengers had voiced their anguish that the lady was allowed to sit while the others were denied.
Here is the text of the letter demanding action against Air India CMD Rohit Nandan for abusing the power to help his batch mate.
To,
Shri. Som Sundaram.
Secretary Civil Aviation,
Ministry of Civil Aviation,
Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan,
New Delhi.
Thru: The CMD Air India.
Sub: ILLEGAL UPGRADING OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS ON FLIGHTS BY THE CMD .
We would like to place on record two incidents of illegal INCIDENTS which have the concurrence of the Chairman and Managing Director , Mr. Rohit Nandan,
The First incident has left a very bad image of the company among the First Class passengers of our airlines .
Sir, on 01.11.2014 on the flight AI 120 on the sector Frankfurt/Delhi , a passenger Mr. Pavadia was upgraded to First Class and assigned seat 1D. When the Crew inquired with the Ground Staff they informed that there were Instructions from the CMD to upgrade this gentleman to First Class at any cost.The crew informed the Ground Staff that the said seat was already allotted to another passenger.
The Ground Staff then Informed the Crew that Mr. Pavadia was the IAS Batch mate of our CMD,Shri Rohit Nandan and has to be upgraded at any cost.To accommodate Mr. Pavadia in the first class, we are given to understand that a genuine Star Alliance Member was down graded to Executive class. The other First Class passengers were not happy with this situation on Ground.
Sir, the behavior of Mr. Pavadia was also not up-to the mark. He constantly sought attention from the crew and was asking for certain food items which were not on the menu and wanted to know why those items were not uplifted on board.The crew had to cut a very sorry figure with the other First Class passengers due to this. The CIC report of the flight will bear this out.
The second Incident is much graver, as it has implications on Flight Safety of the flight.On flight AI 191 of the 13.12..2014, the daughter of the Commander and the ED-CS Ms. Harpreet Singh was taken onto the flight on Jump Seat as all passenger seats were occupied. For take off, rest and landing she was illegally allowed to sit in the cabin crew horizontal rest area BY THE cic. On seeing her sit there many other passengers wanted to shift themselves and the same were denied to them . They were upset and asked why this lady was allowed to sit there and the others denied .
Immediately after the flight took off the First Officer of the flight was asked to relax in the vertical seat and denied his Horizontal Rest in the bunk beds as the daughter of Ms. Singh had to to be accommodated in the bunker beds to rest. When the second set of operating crew went to rest she was then moved to the Cabin Crew horizontal rest area. Denying the Operating Crew to get their mandatory horizontal rest is a Flight Safety Violation as the said crew would be in charge of the landing with out having got the mandated horizontal rest.
We are attaching herewith a photo of the said lady in question occupying the Cabin Crew horizontal rest area for your ready reference.
Sir, we hope that necessary action is initiated against the CMD and the said officials.
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