China investigating in-air brawl between pilot, steward
China’s aviation regulator is investigating a fist fight between the captain and the chief commissioner aboard a domestic passenger flight last month.
The Civil Aviation Administration of China said it took the reported incident extremely seriously and was gathering more information. Any incident that endangers the safety of the flight will be “dealt with strictly by law,” the statement issued Monday night said.
Chinese media reports said the airborne fight occurred on a Donghai Airlines flight on February 20. The captain was angered after exiting the bathroom to find a first-class passenger waiting directly outside and accused the butler of failing to fulfill his duties by requiring the passenger to wait in his seat.
The two then traded blows, leaving the butler with a broken hand and the captain with a chipped tooth, according to reports.
The flight was about 50 minutes from its destination in the central city of Xi’an after departing from the coastal city of Nantong, near Shanghai.
In a statement, Donghai Airlines apologized and said it was reviewing security protocols. He said those involved in the incident had been suspended from their duties, but did not say if they were still employees of the company and did not give details about the altercation.
China’s fast-growing aviation sector has a strong safety record, although there have been previous incidents of passengers opening emergency exits while waiting for take-off, fighting with personnel on board or at the gate, and even throwing coins at the door. jet engine input, supposedly for good luck. .
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