Two Air France pilots suspended for fistfight
An Airbus A319-111, of the company Air France landing at Barcelona airportGetty Images
Two Air France pilots who they fought mid-flight between Geneva and Paris last June in a bizarre scenea are suspended by the company awaiting a decision from his management about his future.
Air France acknowledges, in a statement received this Monday, that there was “inappropriate gestures” between the two pilots in the cockpit of the Airbus A320 that covered that day the journey between the Swiss city and the French capital.
But he insists thatthe incident ended quickly without affecting driving or the safety of the flight, which continued normally.
Suspended Air France pilot and co-pilot came to blows after argument
Details were leaked to the press, after the French aviation safety agency BEA pointed out last week in a report referring to Air France “a repetition of investigations” that reveal “an adaptation of the procedures or even a deliberate violation of these leading to a reduction in safety margins.
According to those leaks, the fight started because the co-pilot refused to execute an order dictated by the captain shortly after takeoff.
One of the two involved speaks of an involuntary blow, while the another claims it was a slap in the face. From there several punches were dealt.
Other crew members realized something was wrong from the noise and entered the cockpit to separate the two pilots. In fact, one of them stayed there for the rest of the flight to prevent them from coming back into the hands.
Air France emphasizes in its statement that “the safety of its customers and crew members is its absolute priority,” reports Efe.
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