Pilot Assaults Engineer in the Cockpit After Being Told Flight Not Yet Cleared for Crew

An Air India flight from Chennai to Delhi was delayed three hours after an engineer and pilot began fighting in the cockpit.

An injured Air India engineer is recovering, while the pilot accused of inflicting the injuries is grounded pending an internal investigation. The Times of India reports Air India Flight 143 was delayed by three hours on Saturday after the two men engaged in a physical altercation in the cockpit.

The fight broke out while the Airbus A319 — scheduled for service from Chennai International Airport (MAA) to Delhi International Airport (DEL) — was undergoing pre-flight checks. Unidentified airline officials told the Times that the captain, Manik Lai, boarded the aircraft while the ground crew was servicing it. The Daily Mail reports that engineers were in the cockpit tending to a technical glitch that caused the aircraft’s initial departure delay.

After Lai boarded the aircraft, the Times reports, the captain ordered engineers and ground crew out of the cockpit. That’s when one of the engineers, V.T. Kannan, reportedly told the pilot that the aircraft was not yet cleared for flight crew. The confrontation resulted in an argument, which then escalated to a physical fight.

The Economic Times reports that Kannan sustained injuries and was transported to a local hospital with a bloody nose. Air India officials confirmed that, for his part in the confrontation, Lai will be grounded from flying pending an investigation.

A second pilot was called in to take over the flight, which took off three hours after its scheduled departure time and with 122 passengers onboard.

[Photo: Air India]