Air India confirmed a cockpit crew member was found unresponsive in his Delhi hotel room on Sept. 11 and later died in hospital. Indian media identified him as Capt. Sunny Asladekar, who had recently joined Air India from Air India Express. The Federation of Indian Pilots has called on the DGCA to urgently review fatigue-management rules and the National FRMS oversight programme after noting several recent pilot fatalities. Authorities completed a post-mortem at Safdarjung Hospital; the final cause awaits the full medical opinion.
Air India Captain Found Unresponsive During Delhi Layover; Pilots Demand Urgent Review of Fatigue Rules
The Grand Hotel in New DelhiCredit: Hotels.com
Air India confirmed that a cockpit crew member was found unresponsive in his hotel room during an overnight layover in New Delhi and later died after being taken to hospital, prompting renewed calls from pilot groups for an urgent review of fatigue-management practices.
What happened: According to an Air India spokesperson, the crew member was discovered unconscious at a hotel in Delhi on Friday, Sept. 11 and was rushed to hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The airline said it is "deeply saddened at the passing away of a cockpit crew member in Delhi" and is providing support to the family.
An Air India planeCredit: Getty
Indian media identified the deceased as Capt. Sunny Asladekar. Reports indicate he checked into The Grand hotel in Vasant Kunj on Thursday, Sept. 10. When family members could not reach him the following day, hotel staff entered the room with a master key and found him unresponsive.
Police statements cited by The Times of India say the room was locked from the inside and was opened by hotel staff. A post-mortem examination was carried out at Safdarjung Hospital; authorities have said the final medical cause of death will be determined after receipt of the full report and any additional investigations.
Indira Gandhi International Airport in New DelhiCredit: Kalyan Chakravorty/The The India Today Group via Getty
Career Background and Flight Details
Sources cited by Hindustan Times report that Capt. Asladekar had recently transferred from Air India Express to Air India a few months earlier. The scheduled flight was between Delhi and Seoul, South Korea, and the trip was reportedly his second with the carrier.
Pilot Group Response and Calls for Review
The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has urged the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to immediately review fatigue-management rules and the National Fatigue Risk Management System (FRMS) Oversight Programme. In an open letter dated Sept. 15 and reviewed by Forbes India, the FIP asked regulators to reassess fixed duty-time rules and rest limits, citing rising indicators of fatigue-related risk.
The FIP noted a concerning trend of pilot fatalities, referencing six pilot deaths between November 2023 and September 2026, while also stating it does not seek to establish a direct causal link between fatigue and the individual fatalities referenced. The group argues that the pattern warrants a regulatory review to strengthen safety margins.
Ongoing Procedures
Air India has not released further medical details. Investigations by local authorities and hospital officials remain under way, and the airline has said it is cooperating with authorities and assisting the family during this time.
Note: Officials have emphasized that the definitive cause of death will be determined by the completing medical and investigative processes.
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