Jet Airways has sacked two pilots for allegedly having a mid-air fight in the cockpit of a passenger plane from London to Mumbai.
The alleged fight took place on 1 January and it involved one of the pilots, a man, slapping his female colleague. The two are believed to be lovers.
Once slapped, the woman left the cockpit in tears while the plane was mid-air. Witnesses said the senior pilot kept buzzing for his co-pilot after she left. When she refused to return, the senior pilot left the cockpit while the plane was on autopilot, which is a violation to safety rules.
After persuasion by cabin crew, the female pilot returned to the cockpit eventually landing the plane safely in Mumbai. The plane had 324 passengers on board when the incident occurred.
Following the fracas, both pilots were suspended from flight duties pending investigations. The senior pilot’s license was also suspended by India’s Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
A statement by Jet Airways 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.”
The BBC reported that the airline said it had “zero tolerance for any action of its employees that compromises safety”.
"At Jet Airways, safety of guests, crew and assets is of paramount importance.”
In other matters transport, commuters have been warned to expect travel disruptions between 12.01am and 11.59pm on Wednesday and the same times on Friday due to the ongoing RMT union members strike. The union confirmed the strikes would go ahead as planned.
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said: “Every single effort that RMT has made to reach negotiated settlements in these separate disputes with the different train operating companies over safe operation and safe staffing has been kicked back in our faces and we are left with no option but to press ahead with the action exactly as planned.
“No one should be in any doubt, these disputes are about putting the safety of the travelling public before the profits of the private train companies.”
By Airport Pickups London
