Seatbelts on and enjoy the fight, I mean flight
TWO senior pilots have been grounded by an Indian airline after allegedly getting into a fight and storming out of the cockpit while in flight.
Jet Airways is investigating allegations a male pilot slapped his female co-pilot during an argument on a New Year’s Day flight from Mumbai to London.
The female pilot reportedly left the cockpit in tears, followed briefly by her co-pilot. As a result the controls were left unattended on the flight with 324 passengers and 14 crew members aboard.
The male pilot is thought to have come out of the cockpit to persuade her to
return – in violation of aviation safety rules that demand at least one pilot remains at the controls at all times.
The female pilot, since “derostered” by the airline, is believed to have been captaining the flight.
The incident is alleged to have happened shortly after the Boeing 777 took off on
the nine-hour flight. The plane landed safely later and no one was injured.
The Indian Directorate General of Civil Aviation has suspended the licence of the male pilot and ordered a probe into the incident.
A source told The Times of India: “Shortly after the plane took off, the two pilots had a fight.
“The co-pilot slapped the lady commander and she left the cockpit in tears. She stood in the galley sobbing.
“The cabin crew tried to comfort her and send her back to the cockpit, but in vain.
“The co-pilot also kept buzzing (on the intercom to) the crew, asking them to send the second pilot back.
“However, they had a fight for the second time, following which she came out again. This time, the cabin crew was quite afraid of the fight happening in the cockpit.
“They requested her to go to the cockpit and fly the plane safely to its destination.”