A former Air India cabin crew member was seen inside the cockpit of an aircraft while the flight was in the air, raising concerns about passenger safety and protocols.
As an alleged video of the incident surfaced on social media, Air India responded to the incident, saying it had launched an investigation into the matter. “We are aware of a video circulating on social media showing a former Air India cabin crew member sitting inside the cockpit. Air India has strict protocols governing access to the cockpit, and any deviation from these standards is treated with the utmost seriousness,” an Air India spokesperson said in a statement.
The airline said it was verifying the authenticity of the video, adding that it had “also initiated an internal investigation to determine the facts and circumstances surrounding the video.”
Air India said that appropriate action will be taken based on the findings of the investigation, so that it can determine whether there is full compliance with all safety and operational protocols. “At Air India, the safety and well-being of our passengers and crew remains our top priority,” she said.
The video shows a member of the plane’s crew sitting in the pilot’s seat and then turning around to show the clouds through the windshield. Posting the video on social media platform
Hindustan Times was unable to independently verify the authenticity of the video.
Can the cabin crew enter the cockpit of the aircraft during flight?
While cabin crew do not normally enter the cockpit during flight operation, it can happen in exceptional circumstances due to a rule that states there must be two people in the cockpit at all times.
The Director General of Civil Aviation stipulates that at least two authorized personnel, whether pilots or cabin crew, must be in the cockpit at all times. For example, if a pilot leaves the cockpit for any reason, the DGCA stipulates that at least two authorized personnel (pilots or cabin crew) must be present in the cockpit at all times during flight, an enhanced rule to ensure safety.
If a pilot leaves, a cabin crew member must enter to prevent any situation where one person could close the other’s door, a rule put in place due to previous such incidents.
“The best I can do is the captain went out to stretch or take a break and the cabin crew was sent to replace him due to there being two people in the cockpit at all times,” one user noted in response to the video, saying:
