An Air India pilot lost his life while resting overnight in a hotel in New Delhi. This incident has led to a request from the Federation of Indian Pilots for a review of fatigue management practices. According to Air India officials, the pilot was found in his hotel room on September 11.
Details of the Incident
An Air India spokesperson confirmed that one of the airline's staff was found in his hotel room in New Delhi on Friday, September 11. Air India stated: "We are saddened by the passing of one of our flight crew members in Delhi." The pilot was resting in the hotel, and his death was confirmed as soon as he was transferred to the hospital.
According to reports, the pilot, known as Captain Sunny Sladkar, had checked into the Grand Hotel in the Vasant Kunj area of New Delhi on Wednesday, September 10. The pilot's brother contacted the hotel on Friday and reported that he was not responding to calls. The hotel manager found the pilot unconscious upon entering the room.
Reactions and Consequences
According to officials, the pilot's autopsy was conducted on Saturday at Safdarjung Hospital, and the final cause of death will be determined after receiving the final report. News sources reported that this pilot had recently transferred from Air India Express to Air India, and the flight from New Delhi to Seoul, South Korea, was his second trip with the airline.
The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has requested the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to urgently review fatigue management practices following this incident. In a letter published on September 15, the federation expressed its concerns regarding the increasing evidence of risks associated with fatigue and referenced six cases of pilot deaths between November 2023 and September 2026.
While the organization is not seeking to establish a direct link between fatigue and the individual deaths mentioned in the letter, it has suggested that the National Fatigue Risk Management System (FRMS) under the supervision of the DGCA review fixed duty times and rest limits.
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