Nithya Menen flies in Air India’s cockpit, 2 pilots taken off duty

Air India has suspended two of its pilots to let Nithya Menen, a South Indian actress cum playback singer to allow in the cockpit. Action has been taken now as the incident happened on June 14 in Bangalore-Hyderabad flight, when two pilots Jagan M. Reddy and S Kiran were found guilty of abusing the safety rules and Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) guidelines by allowing Nithya to enter the cockpit and stay there for some time.

According to a source, this whole episode was captured by a senior government official, who saw the 25-year-old actress entering the cockpit and as soon as the flight landed in Hyderabad, he complained to AI officials. Knowing this, the officials took immediate action and announced the suspension of the defaulters, "The pilots have been suspended and taken off flying duty. We are probing the matter." This thing has also come to light from the source that the actress was allowed to sit on the observer's seat (a place behind pilots' seats reserved for examiners).

With the increasing number of flagrancy cases in aviation, the aviation regulator has decided to take strict action in this issue and has asked Air India to submit a report. A rule after the 9/11 attack was made that bans the non-crew members to enter into the cockpit but spate of violations are still being heard. Nithya Menen has a long list of filmography. Her latest projects include JK Enum Nanbanin Vaazhkai, Yemito Ee Maaya, Malini 22 Palayamkottai and Malini 22 Vijayawada.