Time’s Up: Pilot Refuses to Fly Passenger-Filled Plane

A pilot of an Indian airline refused to fly a plane after his duty hours ended.

According to Indian media, this incident occurred on September 24 with a local airline flying from Pune to Bengaluru. Due to the pilot’s refusal to fly, passengers experienced a delay of 5 hours.

Reports state that the video of the plane filled with passengers went viral on social media after the pilot declined to take off.

The pilot explained that he had completed his designated flying hours and could not work beyond his duty limit. This caused frustration among the passengers, who then posted videos of the situation on social media.

In response to the criticism directed at the airline and the pilot, experienced aviation professional Sanjay Lazar clarified that pilots and crew members have globally regulated working hours to ensure passenger safety.

He added, “This is not a factory where employees can be called in as needed. Pilots cannot take on extra duty without facing hefty penalties.”

The airline administration also apologized to the passengers for the 5-hour delay.