Captain Glusica was not supposed to fly, says son

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, June 19, 2011: Captain Zlatco Glusica, who was flying the ill-fated Air India Boeing 747 bound from Dubai to Mangalore, which crashed into Kenjar Valley and killed 158 of its passengers and staff, was not supposed to fly.

Alexander Glusica, the son of the late captain, declares that his father was not supposed to fly on that particular day and also for the following few days. He voices his suspicions that the flight schedules was drafted at the last minute and that the assignment was forced on the pilot when he was not prepared for it.

 

Captain Zlatco Glusica with his family

 

Newspapers worldwide had blamed Captain Glusica, who had allegedly slept throughout the flight, for the tragedy. According to most media reports, the captain woke up too late, was gripped with sleep inertia, and could not react to his co-pilot’s repeated warnings.

According to 7DAYS, a daily based in Dubai, Alexander, who is currently on training to be a pilot, stated that his father had complained of being overworked. Blamed AI’s policies as also responsible for the tragedy, Alexander said that he was sure that his father was not ready for the flight, adding that it is wrong to blame his father for everything. He demanded a re-investigation on the tragedy.

The son further stated that his father had not mentioned anything about flying or being on standby when he spoke to him a few hours before the flight. He says that he is eager to clear his father’s name because the tragedy is haunting his family, who are pressurized to live with reports that state that his father was responsible for the tragedy. He also said that the victims of the tragedy have the right to know the truth.

 

Aviation India, the leading aviation website of India, also claims that it has obtained a copy of AI’s flight programme for May 17 – 23, 2010, adding that Glusica’s name does not appear on it. This points to the fact that Glusica might have been told of the flight just a few hours in advance and that he might not have been ready for it. He might also not have slept properly the previous night.

Meanwhile, AI has refused to comment on the new claim since the inquiry results have not been officially released.