AirAsia fends off talk that disgruntled pilots caused flight chaos and cancellations

Kuala Lumpur

MALAYSIA-BASED budget carrier AirAsia on Wednesday sought to quash speculation that a wave of pilots calling in sick - which stranded hundreds of furious passengers - was actually a protest over working conditions.

AirAsia has said that around a dozen pilots had called in sick this week, throwing domestic and international flights into disarray on Tuesday as passengers complained that the airline's chaotic handling of…