New Delhi: The Air India pilots on May 1 night called off their agitation on the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) issue and decided to return to duty immediately, ending the week-long stir that had set them on a collision course with the management and disrupted flights of the country's flag- carrier abroad.

Spokesman of the Indian Pilots' Guild (IPG) Captain Mahesh Gulwani said it decided to withdraw the stir following three rounds of talks with Union Labour Minister Sahib Singh Verma that concluded shortly before midnight.

He said the IPG also decided to take back the controversial directive asking its members to insist on Air India management providing a certificate about accompanying crew not having travelled to SARS- affected regions in the last 10 days, a demand which had been rejected by the management.

Gulwani said Verma had "convinced us to withdraw our directive and return to flying duties immediately in national interest".

In Mumbai, Air India management spokesman Jitendra Bhargava welcomed the IPG's decision to withdraw the agitation.

PTI