Air India pilot dies after showing signs of discomfort during training session

New Delhi, Nov 16 (PTI) A senior Air India pilot died on Thursday morning after showing signs of discomfort during a training session at the Delhi airport, according to officials.

The pilot appears to have suffered a cardiac arrest, the officials said.

Himmanil Kumar, a senior commander in his 30s, was at a training session at the operations department of Air India at Terminal 3 of the airport. Suddenly, he started showing signs of discomfort and his colleagues tried to assist him. He was taken to a hospital at the airport but passed away despite efforts to revive him, they said.

Air India said in a statement that Kumar was not on active flying duty and was undergoing a conversion training to operate wide-body aircraft.

'We are saddened at the passing of our colleague, Captain Himmanil Kumar, today,' it said.

The officials said Kumar started training on October 3 for transition to operating Boeing 777 aircraft from A320 aircraft.

The airline is extending all possible assistance to Kumar's family. His father was also a senior commander with the airline, one of the officials said.

A regulatory official in the know said Kumar underwent his medicals on August 23 and was declared fit.

There was no fatigue-related issue with respect to flying duties and after a leave, Kumar resumed training on Thursday, the official said.

All his past medical assessments were fine and no underlying medical conditions were detected, the official added. PTI RAM IAS DIV DIV DIV