Two Indian pilots sacked for mid-air brawl

NEW DELHI, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- Two Indian pilots involved in a mid-air brawl in the cockpit of an international flight of a private carrier have been sacked.

The incident took place on board a nine-hour flight from London to Mumbai of India's private carrier Jet Airways in the Iran-Pakistan airspace on New Year when a senior male pilot slapped a female co-pilot in the cockpit.

In a statement Tuesday, Jet Airways 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."

India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has already suspended the licence of the senior pilot as the fight had put the lives of 322 people on board the flight at stake.

According to sources, the flight commander had in fact slapped the female co-pilot following a violent argument, after which the victim left the cockpit for some time. Later she went back, realising the embarrassment and after the intervention of the seniormost cabin crew.

Jet Airways then termed the fisticuffs in the cockpit as a case of "misunderstanding" between the pilots, which was "resolved amicably." Enditem