As the airline had defaulted on payment of £60,000 to the transport company, it took 11 of AI’s crew members hostage. The crew was allowed to go only after the airline gave them two cheques.
On Thursday the employees of national carrier Air India (AI) had to face the consequences of the airline’s non-payment of dues.
As the airline had defaulted on payment of £60,000 to the transport company, it took 11 of AI’s crew members hostage. The crew was allowed to go only after the airline gave them two cheques.
On June 23 at 8.30am, the cabin crew (CC) of AI’s London-Mumbai flight were picked up from their hotel by OSJ Transport Company.
“We thought that the coach was taking us to Heathrow airport. But the bus took us to the company’s transport yard, which was just five minutes away from the hotel,” said a crew member. “The company then called up our operations department and asked them to clear the pending dues,” she added.
Every day OSJ operates four ferry buses from Heathrow airport to the hotel where the AI crew is put up. They have been serving AI for the past two years and the company owes them £60,000 for the past three months.
The company owner also threatened the airline that if the latter did not make immediate payments, they would not bring the crew to the airport in time for the flight.
“The flight was to leave at 11.30am and they told that any delay in making the payment will lead to delay in flight as they will not let the crew go till the money was paid” she said.
The airline then sent two cheques to OSJ’s office after which the crew was taken to the airport.
“We were in the company’s custody for 45 minutes. We have not received our salaries and now we were subjected to this,” said a frustrated CC.
When contacted, spokesperson for AI, Kamaljeet Rattan, did not respond to our query. An official from OSJ, confirmed the incident.
“Yes, something like that did happen. But I cannot comment on the issue as it is account department’s perspective,” said a Atul, from co-ordination desk, OSJ.
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