There are plenty of legitimate fears when it comes to flying. Heights, germs, or even just insane 70-hour delays all spring to mind. But a fear of your pilot and co-captain breaking out into fisticuffs in the cockpit thankfully hasn't ever registered on the radar of potentially terrifying scenarios. That is, until today.
Thanks to a Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) document chastising China United Airlines, we now know that such a fight between pilots broke out on one of the airline's flights in June of this year. Beyond that, details are scarce and CUA is hardly in a position to benefit from sharing more information than they must on the topic.
What we do know is that the CAAC has slapped the airline with a 10% reduction in flying hours, and (temporarily?) banned it from procuring new routes. The two pilots at the center of the saga have also been grounded by the CAAC for a mandatory six months. A RWV request for comment from China United Airlines about any additional disciplinary measures the airline itself might be doling out against the troublesome employees has been unanswered at this time.
For its part, the budget carrier is diminishing the extent of the altercation. Yahoo News reportsthat the airline insists that the pilots merely engaged in "some physical contact". As anyone who grew up with a sibling can tell you, the old "Nuh-uh" excuse is rarely a winning strategy when it comes to denying backseat brawls, let alone cockpit confrontations. Hey, at least they weren't drunk.
RWV will keep you posted with updates from China United Airlines as they become available.
This story appeared on USA TODAY.
