India’s biggest airlines were forced today to cancel most of its flights due to an unscheduled pilots’ strike. The strike started on Monday, when more than one third of pilots called in sick in what the Jet Airways company called a simulated strike. Pilots demand the reinstatement of two of their colleagues fired in August for “internal conduct”, as the company puts it. Two more pilots were fired on Tuesday on disciplinary grounds.

“A majority of our 270-280 [domestic] flights have been canceled,” said spokeswoman Ragini Chopra of Jet Airways, which is India’s largest carrier by market value.

While Jet Airways is stranded on the ground, India’s national company, Air India, said it can accomodate Jet Airways’ passengers.