Sleepy pilots 'left hostesses in charge' Air India pilots are under fire for allegedly leaving to air hostesses in charge of a flight while they slept in business class. AN AIR India pilot has been suspended after claims he and his co-pilot left two hostesses in charge of the plane while they slept in business class. It is alleged that the pair only returned 40 minutes later when the auto-pilot button was accidently switched off, The Independent reports. The incident happened at 33,000 feet during a flight from Bangkok to Delhi last month. Both the pilot and his co-pilot have denied the claims. They say the hostesses were in the cockpit for longer then the time permitted and that it was the co-pilot who accidently switched off the auto-pilot. Air India says its investigation rejected the claim that the pilots were asleep on the job. The airline says it only took disciplinary action because the hostesses were in the cockpit for longer than allowed. "It is categorically stated that at no point of time the cockpit was left unattended by the cockpit crew," Air India said. As the inquiry confirmed the overstay of the cabin crew in the cockpit, administrative action was taken against them and the pilot. "They have been suspended pending the final inquiry of the incident," the airline added.