Report: Indian gov't suspends Kingfisher license

NEW DELHI -- A news report says the Indian government has suspended the license of Kingfisher Airlines which has been struggling to resume flights following a strike by pilots and engineers who have not been paid for months.

The Press Trust of India news agency says the license was suspended Saturday by the director-general of civil aviation. The officials were not immediately available for comments.

Kingfisher, once one of India's best airlines, is battling for a lifeline with India's airline regulator. The company, which is drowning in debt, It hasn't operated any flights since early this month.

The Center for Asia Pacific Aviation, an airline industry research group, puts Kingfisher's outstanding debt at $2.5 billion, including about $1.1 billion in bank debt.