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PHD. MBA. MHS. Type rated on A350, A330, B777, B747-400, B747-200, B757, B767, B737, B727. International Airline Pilot / Author / Speaker. Dedicated to giving the gift of wings to anyone following their dreams. Supporting Aviation Safety through training, writing, and inspiration. Fighting for Aviation Safety and Airline Employee Advocacy. Safety Culture and SMS change agent.

Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Assault in the Flight Deck!

"BOTH" Pilots Fired?


Jet Airways check airman is flying the rights seat. He slaps the captain. The captain leaves the flight deck, and goes to the back in tears. Forget the tears, removing herself from the flight deck was probably an excellent decision.  

I suspect if that captain had been a man, and the check airman hit him, that could have escalated into something catastrophic. The image of a brawl comes to mind. Needless to say, the captain removed herself from the situation to allow emotions to calm down before returning. 

But she was never given the chance. The check airman left the flight deck unattended to go find her! The question that is boggling my mind is, why was the Captain fired too? What did she do wrong?

She was assaulted by a check airman 
(management pilot).
She removed herself from the situation.
"He" leaves the flight deck unattended... 
So she get's fired?

Can anyone help justify that decision? 

What do you think?

Article: 


Enjoy the Journey! 
XO Karlene



18 comments:

  1. The expectation in the USA would be the FO / check pilot would be fired for slapping his coworker, and fired a second time (!) for leaving the flight deck unattended.

    But this was on an Indian carrier, and of course by their standards she had to be fired for whatever it was that she must have done that caused him to be fired. (satire)

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    Replies
    1. I'm thinking she might have been guilty of putting her face under his hand. :) The real question is what are the rules in India for leaving the flight deck? As a check airman, perhaps he should have brought someone else up there.

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  2. Certainly there need to be repercussions, but a FIVE year suspension? And though the captain left the flight deck after being assaulted by the co-pilot, there was still a pilot in the flight deck. If emotions were running so high that one of the pilots was hit by the other, leaving the cockpit for both to cool off sounds like a wise decision. Should she have returned sooner than she did? Yes, but to be locked up alone in a room with someone who just hit her must’ve been terrifying, and returning to that situation near impossible. And I certainly think the co-pilot’s punishment should be more severe than the captain’s, since he was the one who hit the other, plus then left the flight deck completely unattended and vulnerable!

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    Replies
    1. Josh, I agree with that. Especially since that copilot was actually one of their most senior captains and a check airman... he was just flying in the right seat. I hope we hear more... but mostly, what would you have done? That's the real question... how to deal with that scenario. Thanks for your comment.

      Delete
  3. Wow!!
    Wonders cease to amaze anymore! Leaving the flight deck completed unmanned during flight should have resulted in suspension of the check airman’s licenses permanently. He was the one guilty of not only assault, but also dereliction of duty endangering a plane load of passengers...

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    Replies
    1. I'm thinking the same thing... but the same punishment... hmmm.

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  4. Because she was the captain. The boss, the Big cheese, the head honcho , yadda yadda who abandoned her post.
    Under US law she could leave tobtend to her physiological needs - dies this count?

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    Replies
    1. Well, they were in India, and she was a woman. He was also her husband. He was a man. A senior check airman. So... I'm not sure she was the big cheese.... I'm certain he believed he was. And, she probably was raised to believe that too.

      Now... on that other part, I'm thinking leaving for your physiological needs definitely would include fear. Or fear she would lose it. Maybe she was told pilots don't cry in the flight deck... so she removed herself. Emotional release is as good a physiological need there is.

      But what was he doing leaving the flight deck? I wish we could be in the room on the interview on this. Perhaps you could write an LOE where the copilot slaps the Captain and we can see how they react. :) Thanks for your comment!

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  5. I hope some of her sisters outside India could help her to find a BETTER job in an airline outside India. Leaving the flight deck should have been a misdemeanor event but the airline should have suspended the Captain pending dismissal inquiries.

    Simon Gunson

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    Replies
    1. Simon, I think her sisters are working on that!! Thanks for your comment. I keep trying to think what should she have done? Remain to be assaulted? Or leave to let him cool down? Interesting scenario.
      Thanks for your comment!

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    2. Hi Karlene. I can only relate it to Occupational Health & Safety legislation in my country, but in new Zealand no employee is obliged to continue working in an unsafe workplace. In New Zealand the Employer and the Captain would have been prosecuted.

      Of course this was India. Until I read your tweet I had no awareness of this story.

      Perhaps an awareness raising campaign might help, but after you have found her new employment otherwise it could be counter productive. What are her qualifications may I ask as I will see if anybody at Air New Zealand would consider her employment here?

      Delete
    3. Thank you so much for this comment. I think getting her another job will be a challenge because they took her license for 5 years. That will be the challenge unless we get this reversed.

      That is an excellent law! I think we have the right to work in a safe environment in the US too. I'll have to check the rules. Interesting. Thank you so much for sharing!!

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    4. Unlike USA, most airlines in Asia do NOT have the 2-person flight deck rule. Perfectly OK in most airlines to leave the flight deck (human factors...) with only 1 pilot behind.

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  6. One thing is for sure... You'll never catch me or any of my family members on a Jet Airways flight!!!

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  7. Let me clarify... Won't fly Jet Airways if their Check pilots behave in this manner. Some of the best pilots I've flown with have been female!!! Not knowing the full story here, and all things being equal, I do not believe she should have been fired.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for clarifying. But.. I knew what you meant. Thanks for the comment!

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  8. SLAP!!!!!!

    In your airline, is it permitted to pair pilots who are
    married, or involved in a personal relationship?

    If the airline is not aware of an ongoing connection,
    are the pilots obliged to disclose this?

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    Replies
    1. I don't think that is a rule at any airlines. There was a time when nobody could be working on the same plane... FA and pilot married. But, those times changed. But... it can be a good thing, if the pilots know how to act appropriately. The worst crew I saw was married, and the Best crew I saw was married. Thus... it's just the behavior of the pilots.
      professionalism above all.
      Thanks for your comment!

      Delete

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