New Delhi, Mumbai:
For the third consecutive day, Jet Airways was effectively grounded with pilots refusing to end their strike.
As the airline goes through this huge crisis, there was a desperate appeal from their ground staff to the striking pilots.
Jet Chairman Naresh Goyal has been desperate for official backing to break the deadlock that has plunged his airline into a crisis.
But he seems to be getting no help even from a supporter like the Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel who says it's a private dispute.
This drew a sharp response from Congress MP Sanjay Nirupam who spoke out on behalf of the pilots.
"If the Union Minister thinks this is a private dispute, then it his own mindset. I believe the Prime Minister has not been consulted. Jet Airways is the largest private airline, and in my opinion the government should certainly intervene," said Sanjay Nirupam, Congress MP.
A statement that brought Naresh Goyal to Mr Nirupam's doorstep but he turned back as the mics followed him.
In the past 48 hours Mr Naresh Goyal is trying to meet virtually anybody who can help break the deadlock: From the Aviation Secretary to the Aviation Minister to the Union Home Secretary, and now even Mr Sanjay Nirupam. Just about anybody who can break the deadlock. Clearly, with losses mounting Mr Goyal is very keen to get his planes off the ground.
The Central Labour Commissioner invited both parties for a settlement but the pilots who sense an upper hand, didn't turn up.
"All we have asked is to get four boys back," said Girish Kaushik, President, National Aviators Guild.
"There have been no discussions between the striking pilots and the management," said Saroj Datta, Executive Director, Jet Airways.
Desperate, the Jet management got a handful of ground staff in Mumbai and Delhi to protest against the pilots.
On Friday, the pilots and Jet management will come face to face in the office of the Chief Labour Commissioner. It will be one more attempt to break the deadlock. And thousands of passengers will be hoping that this time they will be successful