New Delhi, Sep 8 - The civil aviation ministry Tuesday asked the Jet Airways management and its pilots to sort out issues through dialogue rather than inconvenience thousands of passengers. It also asked states to examine administrative action to ensure normal flight operations.

Civil Aviation Secretary M. Madhavan Nambiar's appeal came after some 400 Jet Airways pilots reported 'sick' Tuesday, resulting in the cancellation of nearly 200 flights leaving an estimated 20,000 passengers stranded.

'Our view is very clear. We have said we'd like this to be solved. Both sides should come to the table,' Nambiar told a news conference here. He added that all states were also requested to examine the need to invoke provisions of the Essential Services Maintenance Act.

When asked how the government was treating the mass 'sick leave' being resorted to by pilots, the aviation secretary said both the ministry and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation were examining the issue.

'We will see what are the violations.