Air France pilots suspended for fight during flight
Is 2022 the year of the airplane meltdown?
Consequent to airlines witnessing a surge in violent and sometimes downright dangerous behaviour by stressed out passengers, a summer of “revenge travel” that created a surge in demand combined with a underprepared airline industry plagued by COVID-19 outbreaks among pilots, flight attendants and technical staff has created a summer of chaos travel - leaving passengers even more angry and frustrated.
It now appears that airline pilots have decided to enter the fray.
Two Air France pilots were suspended after they began fighting shortly after takeoff from Paris on their way to Geneva. Flight attendants intervened—though details on exactly what they did to stop the fight are not clear.
According to a French air safety agency report, the fight broke out aboard the Airbus A320 after one of the pilots, neither of whom was publicly identified, disagreed about a procedure on departure. The two reportedly exchanged crude gestures before grabbing each other by the collars and proceeding to scuffle, while the plane was on autopilot, we are hoping.
Cabin crew quickly intervened, and one flight attendant babysat the two quarreling pilots as they flew the jet to Geneva, where it landed without further incident.
“The incident ended quickly without affecting either the conduct or the safety of the flight which continued normally,” an Air France official said.
It hasn't been confirmed yet as to what really led to the fight, which forced two pilots to put the safety of passengers at risk. According to one pilot, it was an inadvertent blow from his side that led to the fight, while the other claimed that it was a slap.
An airline spokesperson said in a statement, “The pilots concerned are currently suspended from flying and are awaiting a managerial decision on the outcome/treatment of the incident. Air France reminds that the safety of its customers and crew members is its absolute priority.”
Although the incident took place two months ago, it became public due to a story last week in the French-language business newspaper La Tribune which alleges there are larger structural issues with Air France.
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