New Delhi: A Jet Airways flight with 324 passengers on board, suddenlyfound itself in a bizzare situation on New Year. The captain and hisco-pilot had a violent argument and at one point, he hit her and she leftthe cockpit, sources in the top regulatory body, the Director General ofCivil Aviation, said.
The two have been grounded by the airline, and the pilot’s license has beencancelled, the sources said.
The flight to Mumbai had taken off on its nine-hour journey from a Londonairport, when the pilot and his co-pilot got into an argument. The pilothad slapped the woman co-pilot, who was seen rushing out of the cockpit intears, said sources in the airline.
Later, realising the risk to passengers and the embarrassment, she wentback inside, sources said. Jet Airways, the sources said, will help her ifshe wishes to take legal action against the pilot.
A spokesperson of the Jet Airways it was a case of “misunderstanding”between cockpit crew which was “resolved amicably” and “the flight with 324guests including 2 infants and 14 crew continued its journey to Mumbai,landing safely”.
The matter has been reported to the top regulatory body, the DirectorGeneral of Civil Aviation, which has asked the airline to conduct aninquiry.
Till it is concluded, both have been “de-rostered”, the airline said.
“At Jet Airways, safety of guests, crew and assets is of paramountimportance and the airline has zero tolerance for any action of itsemployees that compromises safety,” the spokesperson said.