Govt asks pilots, Jet management to resolve issues urgently

NEW DELHI: Stepping in to resolve the crisis in Jet Airways caused by protest by pilots, the government today asked its management and pilots to urgently sort out their problems so that the situation "does not go on for too long".

Civil Aviation Secretary M Madhavan Nambiar, who met Jet Airways Chairman Naresh Goyal this morning, said he has "requested them (Jet Airways management) to talk to pilots and come to a resolution."

Nambiar said he had held a series of meetings during the day to ensure an early end to the problem created by over 300 pilots going on mass medical leave in protest against the management's decision to sack two of their colleagues.

"We have impressed upon the sense of urgency... The management understands this and pilots also understand this. That is why pilots are meeting the DGCA this evening," he said.

"Something is happening. Let us wait till evening," he said, adding that "we will ensure that this is resolved... we will like to ensure that this does not go on for too long".

The priority before the government is to reduce the passengers' inconvenience to the minimum, he said while pointing out that 184 Jet flights have been cancelled since morning, affecting 13,000 passengers.

To a question, he said there was chaos as there was no operational plan in place.