India's union civil aviation minister Ajit Singh on Friday warned the striking pilots of the state-run Air India to end their strike and report for work or else they will be replaced with new pilots.

"Few pilots in their individual capacity came to meet the minister. They wanted to join back duty and said that they are ready to cooperate and discussion all the outstanding issues," an official of the civil aviation ministry said.

Mr. Singh has said that that the strike by the pilots of national carrier, Air India is illegal and urged the pilots to return to work. He pointed out that efforts are being made by parties and requested the pilots to think about the passengers and return to their jobs. He had pointed out Dharmadhikari committee was formed to look into the concerns of the pilots and steps will be taken to address the concerns. He also pointed out that the Delhi High court has ruled that the ongoing agitation is illegal.

The minister said that pilots should return to work and promised that they will not be victimized. However, he said that taking back pilots will be on a base-by-case basis. The Delhi High court had ruled that the strike of Air India pilots is illegal.

Air India had announced its decision to sack a group of 10 pilots after they went on an agitation against the airline. The airline management also announced that it is derecognizing their union and had to seal its offices in Delhi and Mumbai. 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. More than 300 of its pilots are no reporting for work since more than two weeks.