Mid-flight Iraqi Airways scuffle was over food: co-pilot
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The cause of mid-flight altercation between the two pilots of an Iraqi Airways flight was dinner, according to the co-pilot.
"Conversation with the pilot became heated because he forbade an air hostess from bringing me a meal tray, under the pretext that I hadn't asked him for authorisation," the co-pilot wrote in a letter to management of his airline, AFP reported after seeing the letter.
The pilot ate his own meal and then “hit and insulted” the co-pilot, according to the account.
A security agent had to settle the matter mid-flight, but the argument continued on the ground, after safely landing in Baghdad.
The pilot “again hit and insulted” the co-pilot, who responded in kind. “I had to defend myself,” he argued.
The airline has said they will punish the two pilots, including possibly revoking their licences.
Iraq’s Transport Ministry is investigating the matter.
There were 157 passengers plus crew on the flight from Mashhad, Iran to Baghdad, AFP reported. The date of the flight has not been disclosed nor has the account of the pilot.
"Conversation with the pilot became heated because he forbade an air hostess from bringing me a meal tray, under the pretext that I hadn't asked him for authorisation," the co-pilot wrote in a letter to management of his airline, AFP reported after seeing the letter.
The pilot ate his own meal and then “hit and insulted” the co-pilot, according to the account.
A security agent had to settle the matter mid-flight, but the argument continued on the ground, after safely landing in Baghdad.
The pilot “again hit and insulted” the co-pilot, who responded in kind. “I had to defend myself,” he argued.
The airline has said they will punish the two pilots, including possibly revoking their licences.
Iraq’s Transport Ministry is investigating the matter.
There were 157 passengers plus crew on the flight from Mashhad, Iran to Baghdad, AFP reported. The date of the flight has not been disclosed nor has the account of the pilot.