Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. Air India Employees Strike to Protest Gag Order Anjana Pasricha | New Delhi 26 May 2010 Air travelers stand in a queue for information, reservations and cancellations at an Air India counter at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, 26 May 2010 Photo: AP Air travelers stand in a queue for information, reservations and cancellations at an Air India counter at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, 26 May 2010 In India, a flash strike by Air India employees has led to the cancellation of scores of flights and stranded thousands of passengers. The striking employees are protesting an order banning them from talking to the media, after a deadly crash of one of Air India's planes killed 158 people.  After the strike by Air India ground crew and engineers crippled the national carrier's air services for a second day, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel called the action "irresponsible". "This flash strike has caused disruption in the flights, inconvenience to a large number of passengers, especially during the holiday season, and has also hurt the image and the finances of our national carrier," said Patel. An Air India spokesman said at least 76 flights, both domestic and international, were canceled. This comes on top of dozens of flight cancellations Tuesday. Thousands of passengers, surprised by the unexpected strike, crowded airports in Delhi and Mumbai. Two of the airlines 14 unions representing ground and technical staff called the strike after employees were told not to speak on safety issues or staff problems to the media. The "gag" order was issued after an Air India flight from Dubai crashed in the southern Indian city of Mangalore after overshooting the runway. Only eight of the 166 passengers and crew members survived the deadly crash - India's worst in more than a decade. The crash prompted several critical stories in the domestic media about the ailing airline. Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said at such a time the employees should have been one in solidarity and tried to redeem the image of the airline instead of walking off their jobs. He warned that the government will take a hard line against the striking workers.   "How can any management or any company function without the cooperation of its employees," said Patel. The striking employees want the "gag" order removed. They say they are also protesting delayed salary payments.  Many employees who have not joined the strike said the action was badly timed and would hurt the image of the airline, which is coping with a financial crisis. Air India suffered heavy losses in the past year. The government has promised to prop up the airline and is infusing millions of dollars to turn it around.  .