Air India official K. Swaminathan said management decided to fire 10 pilots after about 150 pilots failed to show up for work Tuesday.

The pilots went on strike even though the government recently pledged a $6 billion bailout package for the ailing airline.

The pilots were negotiating for better pay and job promotions when the talks broke down.

Air India has been losing about a billion dollars a year as it struggles with the legacy of a poorly executed 2007 merger, debt costs and a swollen staff.