Pilots suspended for balancing coffee cup on vital controls
TWO Indian pilots have been suspended after they posted a cockpit photograph showing an open coffee cup balancing on the controls of an airliner.
The incident reportedly took place on a Spicejet flight from Delhi to the north-eastern city of Guwahati earlier this month, while the aircraft was cruising at an altitude of 37,000 ft.
The cup can be seen perched on the fuel cutoff lever, close to other vital controls including the throttles. It is believed the pilots took the picture to show them enjoying samosas and coffee to celebrate the Hindu festival of Holi.
A backlash from fellow pilots was caused after they posted it online.
A senior pilot at another Indian airline told The Daily Telegraph that the celebration posed a serious safety risk.
“If the coffee spilled and fell on the fire panel below, it would have triggered a short circuit and loss of communication control. It could have proved fatal. It is a shocking incident,” she said.
India’s Civil Aviation demanded the airline to dentify the crew members and take immediate action against them.
“Both pilots have been off-rostered pending an inquiry. Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken upon completion of the investigation,” a Spicejet spokesman said.
Last year, an Air India flight overshot its destination after both pilots fell asleep in the cockpit .