Bangalore, October 1
The debt-ridden Kingfisher Airlines (KFA) owned by flamboyant liquor baron Vijay Mallya today announced "partial lockout" of the airline with immediate effect. The company will review its decision again on October 4.

In a statement issued late this night, the KFA said, "following a series of protracted and unabated incidents of violence, criminal intimidation, assault and other illegal acts by a small section of recalcitrant employees who were all unnecessary and unprovoked, the management has been forced to declare a partial lock-out at the airline, effective immediately."

The statement claimed that despite the fact that a vast majority of the staff were willing to work, "they are not being allowed to report to work on account of acts of criminal intimidation by the said same class of recalcitrant employees who have regrettably chosen to take law into their own hands, forcing a complete paralysis of operations." The statement added that with the safety of passengers in mind, the company is left with no other option but to take steps as advised in law. Before commencing legal action, the company will make efforts to continue to engage with these “recalcitrant employees”.