Indigo Pilot makes false announcement on delay to cover for co-pilot's absence, ATC fumes

An Indigo pilot faced a major embarrassment when he was caught attributing a flight delay to the Air Traffic Controller to "cover up" the absence of his co-pilot.

Following the incident, which took place at Chennai airport last week, the Airports Authority of India raised the issue with IndiGo, asking it not to pass the blame for flight delays "falsely" to the ATC, sources said.

One of the sources said the incident prompted IndiGo to send an e-mail to its pilots, instructing them to desist from such acts.

The departure of IndiGo flight 6E-859, operating on the Chennai-Madurai route, had already been rescheduled to 1225 hours from 1145 hours, which was conveyed to passengers via text messages.

The Pilot-in-Command later announced that the flight had been further delayed "because the Air Traffic Controller was not clearing the aircraft for departure", the source said.