SpiceJet denies allegation of safety hazards and pay cut stress by ex-pilot

SpiceJet has issued a statement denying allegations of flight safety hazard caused due to financial stress of certain unnamed employees, as completely false and baseless. It further added that it has a strong flight safety culture and in an impeccable safety record, according to a report in The Times Of India. The airline said that its former pilot Vinodh Loganathan had a history of poor performances on account of his attitude, failure in tests and exams and being abusive to colleagues, especially those at the junior level.

Captain Loganathan had refuted this allegation from the airline, saying that he has never failed any tests and has documentary proof for the same, the publication said.

In an NOC letter to the DGCA on June 10, 2021, from the Vice President of Operations, SpiceJet, it said that Captain Loganathan had maintained a high level of proficiency, integrity and no major or minor penalty or administrative action was imposed against him, while employed with SpiceJet.

Allegations

Captain Loganathan in an open letter sent to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and top civil aviation officials on Tuesday, said that the massive pay cut in the past 18 months has put SpiceJet’s pilots under tremendous financial stress which has put the airline into a flying hazard. Adding to that there have also been instances of first officers and crew breaking down in the cockpit and had to be consoled, the letter said.

The letter titled ‘The flight safety hazard called SpiceJet’ said that many pilots have sold their houses or have been forced out of their homes by the banks due to the non payment of EMIs.

While other airlines have imposed a salary cut of 15% to 30%, SpiceJet has imposed a pay cut of 70% to 85%, since March 2020, the letter added.

Those who ask for their salary are removed from the active roster and are forced to resign. Also a financially stressed crew are a flight safety threat as they are not in a right state of mind. This can lead to an air crash at anytime, read Loganathan’s letter.

The 38-year-old captain with 5,500 hours of flying experience had alleged that he was verbally abused by certain officials of the airline, when he raised the salary issue. Later, he was removed from his flying duties and was forced to resign, the letter said.