Jet Airways terminates two pilots for midair brawl

NEW DELHI: Jet Airways has terminated the services of two pilots who were involved in a mid-air brawl on London-Mumbai flight on January 1. A senior pilot had allegedly slapped a female commander, following which two were grounded.

REPORT FILED BY ONE OF THE CREW MEMBERS SAID THE PILOTS HAD AN ARGUMENT OVER A ‘PERSONAL ISSUE’ AND HAD LEFT THE COCKPIT UNATTENDED FOR A BRIEF PERIOD

NEW DELHI: Jet Airways has sacked its two senior pilots who had a physical altercation on board a London- Mumbai flight on January 1.

The incident involved the co-pilot slapping his woman commander inside the cockpit of the aircraft which was ferrying 324 passengers, including two infants and 14 crew.

The pilots were suspended by the airline on Monday evening. A report filed by one of the crew members said the two senior pilots had an argument over a “personal issue” and had left the cockpit unattended for a brief period, not only violating norms but also risking passenger safety.

The two pilots were grounded immediately after the incident was reported to aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The regulator also suspended the license of the male co-pilot.

Confirming the development, an airline spokesperson said, “Consequent to the review of the events on board Flight 9W 119 London-Mumbai of January 1, 2018, Jet Airways has terminated services of both the cockpit crew with immediate effect.”

An internal report by the airline’s Mumbai office said the commander came out of the cockpit complaining that she was being physically assaulted by her co-pilot.

The co-pilot ‘forcefully pushed’ the commander back into the cockpit and called it their “personal issue”. The commander went back to the cockpit only after asking one of the crew members to assist her after which the aircraft was landed in Mumbai.

She, however, made sure the crew member remained inside the cockpit until the aircraft landed. The report also said that the male co-pilot had apologised after the landing.

While the DGCA has suspended the male co-pilot’s license official sources, however, said that the licence’s status was being discussed.