Jet Airways pilot killed in car accident

MUMBAI: A Jet Airways pilot was killed after a car, contracted by his office, met with an accident on the Western Express Highway at Andheri East early on Sunday. Police said the driver of the vehicle rammed into the barrier of the Andheri flyover. The driver, Kamlesh Kumar Kahar, 38, was arrested on charges of negligence. He was released on bail by a holiday court the same day. Kahar escaped with minor injuries. 

Saumik Chaterjee, the 29-year-old pilot, resided at Mahakali Caves in Andheri East. He was headed for duty on Sunday. The Swift Dzire picked him up from his residence and was ferrying him to the domestic airport via Jogeshwari. 

Around 5.45 am, the vehicle, with Chaterjee in the backseat, was on the south-bound stretch of the WEH. While navigating upwards from a low lying stretch, the driver lost control and rammed into the barrier of the Andheri flyover. Chaterjee was hurt severely on his head. He suffered from haemorrhage and bled excessively. The driver sustained injuries to his head. A passing motorist informed the cops. The traffic police were the first to reach the accident spot. They rushed Chaterjee and Kahar to the Cooper Hospital in Vile Parle, where doctors pronounced the pilot dead. 

Kahar was booked under sections 279 and 304 (A) of IPC for rash driving and negligence. He was also booked under section 185 of Motor Vehicles Act for drunk driving though the cops are yet to confirm if he was drunk. The police are probing if Kahar dozed off at the wheel. 

Sources said that the driver had been struck off night duty and was posted on day duty. But he got his organization to assign him back on night duty. The police are now probing if he was employed elsewhere during the day and if he was overworked. 

A Jet Airways spokesperson said, "Jet Airways deeply regrets to confirm the demise of a cockpit crew member in a car accident in Mumbai on April 5, 2015. Jet Airways offers heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and is providing them all assistance." 

Source:  http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com