Trouble seems to be increasing for the cash-strapped Jet Airways. The airlines has already grounded 41 aircrafts due to non-payment of lease rentals, resulting in a significant increase in the cancellation of flights. In a fresh development, the airline’s aircraft maintenance engineers’ union have written to the aviation regulator on Tuesday that three months of salary was overdue to them and flight safety “is at risk”.
In a letter written to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Jet Aircraft Engineers Welfare Association (JAMEWA) stated: “It has been arduous for us to meet our financial requirements, result of which have adversely affected the psychological condition of Aircraft Engineers at work and therefore the safety of public transport airplanes being flown by Jet Airways across India and the world is at risk.”
“While the senior management is finding a resolution to be in business, we the Engineers who inspect, troubleshoot and certify the public transport airplanes for its airworthiness are in tremendous stress due to non-payment of salaries on time, since last 7 months. As of now, 3 month’s salary is overdue to us,” the letter, said.
Meanwhile, minister Suresh Prabhu has called for an emergency meeting on Jet grounding its flights.