‘Room Locked From Inside’: Air India Captain Found Dead in Delhi Hotel; Brother Alerted Staff

A Mumbai-based Air India captain in his 40s was found dead in a luxury hotel room in south Delhi’s Vasant Kunj on Friday, a day before he was scheduled to operate a flight, police said on Saturday.

The pilot had been staying at the hotel since Thursday during a layover, police said.

According to police, an autopsy was conducted at Safdarjung Hospital on Saturday to determine the cause of death. Inquest proceedings have also been initiated under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southwest) Amit Goel said the hotel informed the Vasant Kunj North police station about the incident on Friday, following which a police team was sent to the spot.

Police personnel found the pilot unconscious and rushed him to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

Police said the man was an airline captain who had checked into the hotel on Thursday. On Friday evening, his brother contacted the hotel manager after the pilot failed to respond to repeated phone calls.

The manager then went to the pilot’s room, which was locked from the inside. He opened the door using the hotel’s master key and found the pilot lying unconscious.

“The cause of death will be ascertained after we receive the postmortem report. Further enquiry is in progress,” the DCP said.

Air India Express Pilot Had Joined Air India Recently

Air India said it was “deeply saddened” by the pilot’s death and confirmed that he was scheduled to operate a flight early Saturday morning.

The pilot had previously worked with Air India Express and joined Air India around two months ago, the airline said.

“Air India is in close touch with his family and is extending all support at this time of grief,” an Air India spokesperson said.

HT contacted the hotel over its landline for a response. An executive who answered the call said the hotel would revert.