Jet Airways senior executive junks rules on the bunk

In a major embarrassment for Jet Airways, the captain of the airline's Mumbai-Hong Kong flight has lodged a complaint against company chief Naresh Goyal's executive assistant Jennifer D'Silva for forcing him to allow her to sleep on the bunk meant exclusively for resting crew members on the long-haul flight.

While Jet tried to downplay the incident, sources disclosed that the captain has reported the matter to the National Aviators Guild.

The incident happened on board a recent flight in which Jennifer was travelling in the economy class.

Sources said that Jennifer, who was travelling with her husband, wanted to sleep during the five-and-a-half hours flight and demanded that the bunk be provided to her. She is understood to have used her position to intimidate the captain and crew members to get access to the bunk behind the cockpit in violation of rules of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

According to DGCA norms, the bunk cannot be given to a passenger. Guild members are now expected to take up the matter with the airline management soon.

Jet confirmed that D'Silva had visited the bunk but did not comment on the allegations.

" We confirm that the executive travelled in the economy class on the Bombay-Hong Kong sector, seat No. 39A. She did visit the bunk area. However, this was not in violation of the DGCA rules," a Jet spokesperson said in a statement.

A senior pilot said that bunks are generally on the back side of the plane, mostly in long-haul aircraft for resting of air crew.

There have been many cases of mid-air violation of rules.

Last month, the DGCA had suspended the flying licence of four pilots who had allowed their children inside the cockpit on two flights. The pilot of the third flight who allowed passengers inside the cockpit of a plane that was being prepared for take-off was removed from flying duties.

In association with Mail Today