The prime minister's office (PMO) doesn't want the civil aviation ministry to sack the strikign pilots. It has asked the civil aviation to look into the issue and solve the matter amicably. The news was confirmed by the sources close to PMO. The office has also stressed that a solution can be found out at the earliest. It is known that the civil aviation minister tossed the ball into the court of Air India management and said it was now the decision of the management whether or not to sack the pilots.

The request by PMO came in after the former director of Air India indicated as to how dangerous it would be if inexperience pilots replace the currently experience ones. Meanwhile, the pilots demanded that the sacked 101 pilots should be taken back. The civil aviation ministry is likely to call the pilots once again for talks.

(Phani)