Chinese carrier Donghai Airlines confirmed it had suspended a male pilot and a male flight attendant after allegations the pair assaulted each other during a flight.
The argument started 50 minutes from landing from Nantongin, the Jiangsu province, to Xi’an, in the Shaanxi province on February 20.
The argument involved a passenger who was queuing to use the lavatory in the first class cabin.
The pilot exited the cockpit to use the first-class bathroom. He noticed a passenger approaching just as he was entering the lavatory. The pilot instructed the passenger to wait in his seat which he ignored.
When the pilot still saw the passenger standing by the bathroom door when he exited, the pilot chided the flight attendant for “not doing his job properly and affecting flying safety.”
One thing led to another, and the verbal jousting turned physical.
The fight resulted in a pilot allegedly losing a tooth and a flight attendant suffering a broken arm.
Donghai Airlines issued a statement saying the pair had been suspended from their jobs.
“The company attached high importance to the argument among the crew members during flight and conducted a strict internal verification. Those staff members involved have been suspended their job to ensure flight safety,” the statement said.
