The management of state-run Air India has toughened its stance and has approached the Delhi high court to restrain its pilots from striking and not reporting for work.

Counsel Lalit Bhasin, who was representing the management of the airline, filed an injunction suit before justice Reva Khetrapal seeking an order to restrain Air India pilots from striking. The case will be heard at 2.15pm on Wednesday.

Air India had announced its decision to sack a group of 10 pilots on Tuesday after they went on an agitation against the airline. The airline management also announced that it is derecognizing their union. It also moved to seal its office after 160 failed to join duty, which resulted in the cancellation of five international flights since previous night.

Among the ten pilots who have been sacked by the airline, some are office bearers of the Indian Pilots Guild (IPG), which is heading the protest against the management. The management derecognized the IPG and sealed its offices in Delhi and Mumbai.

An Air India spokesperson said that flights on Delhi-Toronto, Delhi-Chicago, Mumbai-Newark and Mumbai-Hongkong via Delhi sectors were cancelled as the pilots did not come for work.

Meanwhile, Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh said that the airline is bankrupt and has not paid its dues to the employees, airport authorities and oil companies. He indicated that the government is willing to discuss the matters with the pilots but pointed out that protests and talks will not proceed at the same time.