London, Apr 27: A British air stewardess was sacked for refusing to fly to Saudi Arabia after she was ordered to wear a traditional Islamic robe and walk behind male colleagues.

Lisa Ashton, who worked for BMI, was told that she was expected to wear in public in Saudi Arabia the abaya, a long black robe that leaves only the face uncovered.

She was also told that she should walk behind male colleagues irrespective of their rank, in order to conform with the social codes of the conservative country, The Telegraph reports.

Air Works has taken the attempted sabotage case of Anil Ambani’s Bell 412 helicopter - parked in the Air Works’ hangar for repair and maintenance - quite seriously. Till the time investigations do not reach their conclusive end, 52 of the non-technical workers of the company have been directed to stay off duty.  

New York - A Delta Airlines plane on a flight from New York to Tel Aviv was forced early Saturday to make an emergency landing in Boston after a passenger sought to force his way into the cockpit, the local television channel WCVB reported. The report said that some 2 hours after the fully-loaded Boeing 767 plane took off, a man tried to storm the cockpit.

Five passengers managed to overpower him and keep him tied down with a safety belt until the plane could land at Boston's Logan airport.

The man was described as a 22-year-old Israeli.

Washington  - A pilot flying a small plane violated the tight airspace regulations around Washington, prompting orders to briefly evacuate Congress and parts of the White House, media reports said.

The US Senate adjourned into a quick recess but returned to session minutes later after the all-clear signal was given. MSNBC television reported that the pilot complied with demands to alter course.

India's national carrier, Air India, and the recently-created Airport Economic Regulatory Authority, AERA, will likely have new chiefs named on Friday, after a high-profile meeting - under the chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar - takes a decision regarding the persons to be at the helm of affairs of the two organizations.

Other known dignitaries to participate in the top-level meeting include Prime Minister's principal secretary TKA Nair, civil aviation secretary M Madhavan Nambiar, and public enterprises selection board chairman Naresh Narad.

Global Vectra Helicopters, part of the $800-million Vectra Group, is presently looking at the option to make an investment of $130 million over the next two years to enhance its fleet size as well as consolidate its operations.

Moreover, the company is also looking at the possible option to raise funds, which it will use to increase its fleet strength by 14 helicopters to 45 in two years.

The company intends to focus more on off-shore activities which are basically non-oil and gas.