Mumbai, October 30: Budget airline SpiceJet has terminated an off-duty pilot and an air hostess for their public display of affection or PDA on a Delhi-Kolkata flight last month. An internal inquiry was ordered after a passenger had complained that the flight attendant and a passenger were behaving indecently during the flight. The inquiry found that the passenger engaged in indecent conduct was a first officer pilot. Ravichandran Ashwin Criticises Airline SpiceJet on Twitter After Vijay Hazare 2019–20 Final, Deletes Tweet Later.

"The first officer was travelling as an additional crew member and was not operating the flight. The flight attendant was on duty. They were seated in adjacent jump seats at the rear end of the aircraft," a source was quoted by TOI as saying. Though flyers sit facing the front of the aircraft, the complainant using the lavatory in the aft end of the aircraft would have caught the flight attendant and the off-duty pilot nuzzling. SpiceJet to Start New Airline in UAE; Start Flights on Delhi-Ras Al Khaimah International Airport Route.

The passenger thought the off-duty pilot was a fellow passenger because he was not in uniform. "Both crew members were questioned and thereafter terminated," the source added. Following the incident, SpiceJet released a flight safety case study for its employees, titled "Unprofessional behaviour at workplace". The note said that uncultured behaviour at the workplace may adversely affect the reputation of the company (airline).

"The involved cabin crew and first officer failed to maintain decorum and professionalism at workplace. They failed to set their personal life apart from professional, which is unacceptable on the work premises," the note said.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 30, 2019 03:43 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).