Air India initiates disciplinary action against 4 staffers for stealing food

New Delhi : Air India on Monday initiated disciplinary action against its four employees for allegedly "stealing" unserved food and dry ration from its planes, senior officials of the national carrier said.

Two years back, Air India's Chairman and Managing Director Ashwani Lohani had seeked an investigation saying that ground staff and officers are believed to be stealing unserved food and dry ration for their personal consumption.

"Officials found indulging in such practice should be summarily placed under suspension," the circular read.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a senior official of the national carrier told PTI, "Since the August 2017 circular, the airline has taken action against two employees of the catering department and two cabin crew employees, who were found to be stealing surplus food and rations from planes."

An assistant manager and a senior assistant working in the catering department have been suspended from their duties for 63 days and three days respectively after they were found guilty, said the official.

In March last year, two cabin crew members were shifted from International flight to domestic flight with a warning.

Asked as to how many inspections were carried out by the national carrier post the August 2017 circular, the official said, "The catering division carries out spot and hygiene checks on flights and at caterer's premises on random basis which pertain only to enforcing quality parameters for the in-flight food."