Mumbai: After a bizarre instance of unprofessional behaviour by two pilots on a London-Mumbai Jet Airways flight on Monday, the private airline has de-rostered them.
The two senior pilots, a couple, allegedly indulged in a marital spat inside the cockpit after which the wife exited the cockpit. She had to persuaded back twice by the cabin crew. In a total violation of safety protocols, the pilot himself exited the cockpit, leaving it unmanned, in an effort to get his wife, the co-pilot, back into the cockpit.
The incident took place on the 9W119 Boeing 777 that had 324 passengers and 14 crew members onboard.
The most shocking part of the whole incident was that the pilot allegedly came out of the cockpit to persuade his wife to join him inside after she left for the first time.
The co-pilot was convinced by the senior cabin crew to take up her duties and assist the pilot.
But the episode did not end there as she again stormed out of the cockpit few minutes later. The flight landed in Mumbai just after midnight of January 1-2.
“The incident took place soon after the plane took off for Mumbai. The lady sobbed in the galley. Then the commander reportedly came out of the cockpit, leaving the cockpit unmanned in gross violation of safety rules, to persuade the co-pilot to return with him to the controls,” sources said. They then fought again and she left the cockpit once more.
After the incident came to light, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) suspended the co-pilot's flying licence and ordered a probe into the entire episode. A Jet Airways spokesperson said, “A misunderstanding occurred between the cockpit crew of Jet Airways flight 9W 119, London-Mumbai of January 01, 2018.
However, the same was quickly resolved amicably and the flight with 324 guests, including two infants and 14 crew members continued its journey to Mumbai, landing safely.”
"The airline has reported the matter to the DGCA and the concerned crew has been taken off flying duties pending investigation, that has since been initiated. At Jet Airways, the safety of guests, crew and assets is of paramount importance and the airline has zero tolerance for any action of its employees that compromises safety,” the spokesperson added.
