Air India Pilots, Crew Scuffle Leaving Cockpit Unmanned
EmailABC's Ammu Kannampilly reports from London: If Indian national carrier, Air India didn’t have enough problems (pilots going on strike last week, a lawsuit by stewardesses sacked for being overweight, and $875 million in losses last year), now the airline has hit the headlines for a brawl between pilots and cabin crew that reportedly left the cockpit unmanned during a flight between Sharjah, UAE to the Indian capital Delhi. Indian newspaper The Times of India reports that the pilot, Captain Ranbir Arora and co-pilot, Aditya Chopra, on flight IC 884 got into a full-blown brawl with two members of the cabin crew, a man and a woman. The crew claimed that the pilots had sexually harassed a 24-year-old air stewardess, while the pilots alleged that a male member of the crew, Amit Khanna had misbehaved and endangered safety. They said that the air stewardess falsified a complaint of sexual harassment to distract attention from Khanna’s misconduct. No one denied the slugfest. During the scuffle, the cockpit was reportedly left unmanned for a time, as the aircraft flew over Pakistani territory. As the parties involved hurled abuses at each other, Arora reportedly threatened to land the plane in Karachi, as the 106 passengers onboard watched in shock. Finally the pilots returned to the cockpit and locked the crew out, landing the plane safely in Delhi, to the relief of passengers. Police are probing the air stewardess’s complaint and have reportedly registered a case against Arora and Chopra. The stewardess sustained bruises during the scuffle, police confirmed to the Times of India. Meanwhile, Arora and Chopra are said to be considering a complaint against Khanna and the stewardess. Confirming the brawl, Air India released a statement saying that “as there have been claims and counter claims between the parties involved, the Management has ordered an enquiry which is still in progress at this time.” All four parties in the scuffle have been grounded from working until further notice, Air India said.
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Fire them all. They do not need to be in charge of peoples safety
Posted by: cavscout | October 5, 2009, 10:49 am 10:49 am
Fire every one of them, not one of them is adult enough for these jobs.
Posted by: Bob | October 5, 2009, 11:56 am 11:56 am
That’s what we like to see…….maturity in airline crews.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | October 5, 2009, 12:29 pm 12:29 pm
That’s OK I feel like smacking one of them evrytime I call for Tech assistance
Posted by: LEE | October 5, 2009, 12:45 pm 12:45 pm
Irresponsible behavior hits a new high. What flight school did these pilots go to? Did the attendants really think that fighting with the two people that keep the plane in the air was a good idea? Fire the whole crew or assign them all to cargo flights.
Posted by: TXPDelta | October 5, 2009, 1:49 pm 1:49 pm
Wow, LeGarrette Blount of the Oregon Ducks football team should apply to work as a pilot there!
Posted by: Paul | October 5, 2009, 1:49 pm 1:49 pm
Toss ‘em all in the hoosegow!
Posted by: Doc Savage | October 5, 2009, 2:56 pm 2:56 pm
It seems to have the foot print of Bollywood plot all over. From the report, I read that the steward tried to emulate Don Quixote in standing up for his female colleague forgetting that he is hanging in the air. Our villains,or, the pilots, seem to forget their responsibilities and decency, as well. NO DISCIPLINE! Not even a trace of it! One should equally blame the management characters that hired these in-air characters.
Shouldn’t be the time minimize the reverence to Bollywood while not relinquishing peripatetic ways.
Posted by: Common Good | October 5, 2009, 4:44 pm 4:44 pm
Lee why would you want to slap a pilot when you call tech support?!
Posted by: UncleKraker | October 5, 2009, 5:24 pm 5:24 pm
Just one more reason I’ll never fly again!
Too many weird things going on in the air and not enough Sullenbergers. I apologize if I’ve misspelled his name
Posted by: Patricia,Grass Valley, CA | October 5, 2009, 6:29 pm 6:29 pm
Response to this incident should be quick and simple: termination, and imprisonment, of all.
Air travel is risky enough without child-like cabin and cockpit crews abandoning their positions.
Posted by: saftgek | October 6, 2009, 8:41 am 8:41 am
So what really happened? I tried puffing a electronic cigarette on a plane and got away with it.
Posted by: Jeffery | October 6, 2009, 11:13 am 11:13 am
I agree that all members should be terminated. This type of behavior, no matter what the circumstance should not be tolerated. If someone if out of line, they should be dealt with ON THE GROUND.
Posted by: Amit B | October 6, 2009, 12:25 pm 12:25 pm
fire them all, let unemployment sort them out
Posted by: KaliPope | October 6, 2009, 2:05 pm 2:05 pm
It seems LEE is as sophomoric as the crew on the airline.
Posted by: jack | October 6, 2009, 2:07 pm 2:07 pm
Haha … Chop off their heads … they have no clue what they are doing … they should have neither a head nor a job …
Posted by: Kalimatha | October 7, 2009, 8:51 am 8:51 am
They have acted very irresponsibly despite having a high profile job. They have threatened the lives of 160 passengers, least caring they were flying over Pakistan air space, repercussions would have been very very serious. They really dont deserve the respect of the nation. Very shameful.
Posted by: Bakhtawar Malik | October 7, 2009, 11:26 am 11:26 am
Hmm, I don’t think “fire them all” is the answer. I like to think they’ll conduct some sort of investigation first? Especially since they have a planeload of witnesses to the events? If the stewardess got harrassed and injured and had no other part in it, she probably shouldn’t be fired or jailed….
Posted by: Robbie | October 7, 2009, 2:09 pm 2:09 pm
Air India has been going downhill for years. This really is the final straw …. endangering the safety of passengers. Fire them all and sell the airline to someone who can bring discipline and profitability back.
Posted by: Adrian | October 7, 2009, 7:26 pm 7:26 pm
GUYS, DONT GET CARRIED AWAY. IT IS JUST A PUBLICITY STUNT PROMOTING A BOLLYWOOD MOVIE GOING TO BE RELEASED SOON FEATURING SALMAN KHAN AND SHAHRUK KHAN AS THE PILOTS AND AMITABH BACHAN AS THE STEWARD AND PRETTY ZIENTA AS THE STEWARDESS FOLLOWED BY COURT ACTIONS..FIGHTING SCENES ON TOP OF BUSES, RAILWAY COACHES AND MOTOCYCLE, HORSES ARE ALREADY TOO COMMON IN INDIAN BOLLYWOOD MOVIES THEY HAVE TO FIND A NEW SCENE THAT STIMULATE THE IMAGINATION OF THE MASS…WAIT FOR THE MOVIE IT WILL BE RELEASED SOON.
Posted by: JOHAN | October 8, 2009, 4:45 am 4:45 am
I am in no doubt any longer….with all the hurricanes, quakes and strange human behaviour, the world is coming to an end. People have a death wish these days and it seems that the powers in heaven are inclined to grant it…to the whole human race, air crews included.
Posted by: Fola Arthur-Worrey | October 8, 2009, 3:30 pm 3:30 pm
Anybody got the number of that 24 year old stewardess, she must be smoking hot !
Posted by: WhosyourDaddy | October 8, 2009, 5:12 pm 5:12 pm
These pilots must be good. They are real “Fighter Pilots”. What we now know is that the automatic function in these aircrafts work, the pilots are physically prepared for any challenge and the cabin crew are heterosexuals .
Posted by: Kungfu Pilots | October 8, 2009, 5:15 pm 5:15 pm
this all happened because one of the crew made the mistake of calling the pilot shirley XD
(airplane reference)
Posted by: Nate | October 8, 2009, 5:54 pm 5:54 pm
THIS IS A NATIONAL SHAME AND HIGHEST ORDER OF NONSENCE AS THIS IS GOING TO BE OR OFFICIAL CARRIERS FOR THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES NEXT YEAR AND HOW WOULD ANY BODY TRUST THE AIRLINES WITH THIS KIND OD ATTITUDE AND FORMOST IS THE SAFETY CONCERN, AND THEY ERTAINLY SUPPOSED TO BE TERMINATED WITH IMMIDEATE EFFECT AND LET IT BE A LESSON FOR ALL IN THIS BUSINESS THEY THIS IS AN INDUSTRY WHERE YOU HAVE TO HAVE MIND IN PLACE WHEN ON BOARD OR AT GROUND LEVEL
Posted by: RAJESH MEHRA | October 11, 2009, 3:50 am 3:50 am
Seems the Indians perhpas show more respect for a cow than a woman.
Posted by: Olden Atwoody | October 11, 2009, 5:25 am 5:25 am
Fire the stewardess for her false accusations. Both her and the steward put the flight into danger. The pilots have the final authority to the safety of the flight. The pilots did their jobs well.
Posted by: Jamie Jacobs | October 11, 2009, 6:38 pm 6:38 pm
Absolutely stupid of all of them to get
into a fight while in air putting all
passengers in danger of death.
Fire the whole bunch and let them starve
or find some other kind of jobs that dont require stupidity for the job.
Posted by: L.L.Montemayor Sr | October 11, 2009, 10:21 pm 10:21 pm
Give it a break people, so many uptight people in this world today. The plane has auto pilot for god sake. Did anybody get hurt besides the crew? Sometime we lose control, we aren’t machines. Give me 5 minutes in a room with any of you, no matter how much self control you think you have, and you will lose it with me.
Posted by: Vic | October 12, 2009, 8:27 am 8:27 am
People are out of control…a sign of the times – NO SELF CONTROL! All involved should be totally removed from working in the airline business. The crew’s/pilot’s behaviour showed no regard for the passengers’ security and was totally unprofessional. Air India, do yourself a favor and toss them out at 20,000′.
Posted by: Carolyn | October 15, 2009, 1:51 pm 1:51 pm
Has anyone flown Air India? I have from New York to Paris. Thought I was getting a deal. The flight over not too bad. Don’t eat the food. You’ll be spending the better part of your vacation with stomach problems. The way back another story. Did not touch the food. The passangers from India to Paris (11 hour flight) were not permitted to deplane in Paris for the 4 hour layover. Leaving them on a runway in 90 degree heat. The smell on the plane was should I say unbearable. Thank god I went to the bathroom before my 7 hour flight back home as they had used the bathrooms as showers saw one woman washing her feet in the sink and there was no tp/paper towels and the toliets were out of commission the whole trip. They would not let you use 1st class. I hope this incident puts the airline on the ground permenetly. They are not the friendly skies.
Posted by: S Miller | October 15, 2009, 4:14 pm 4:14 pm
I can only hope the passengers kept quiet during the melee. Critical remarks about aircrew behavior, particularly during flight, can lead to unpleasant detention upon landing. Let’s remember who’s in charge here.
Posted by: Fly-Errr | October 15, 2009, 5:06 pm 5:06 pm
please note ic is india air not air india, please correct report
Posted by: conrad | October 15, 2009, 5:25 pm 5:25 pm
Why not charge the crew for “terrorism” as they surely terrorized their passengers. Who in their right mind would fly on that airline ever again?
Posted by: nobody famous | October 15, 2009, 5:52 pm 5:52 pm
I am a professional airplane pilot. The captain of the aircraft is ultimately responsible for his/her crew and the safety of the passengers. If this captain failed in his duties and willfully allowed the aircraft to fly unmanned and permitted his crew to behave in such a dangerous way, then he should be removed from his position, have his airman’s certificate permanently revoked, face a board of inquiry and if found duly negligent, appropriately punished under Indian law. And the crewmembers who were insubordinate should be dealt with just as judiciously. India’s transportation authorities will definitely deal with this most correctly. In this, I have no doubt.
Posted by: Anthony | October 16, 2009, 10:27 am 10:27 am
I tend to agree with the “fire them all” attitude.
There is no excuse for supposedly well trained professionals to get into a fist fight on an airliner, what would they have done if the pilots had gotten too injured to fly the plane?
They all should be up on criminal charges for endangering the lives of the passengers. Let the court decide who is guilty and who is not guilty. Either way none of these Bozos should be in the air ever again.
Posted by: Zermoid | October 16, 2009, 12:45 pm 12:45 pm
Having flown Air India, I might observe, that for one brief moment while the plane few itself the passangers where safe from their biggest single danger, pilot error. Forget firing anyone, close Air India. It is a grossly mismanaged governement owned menace to air safety.
Posted by: Tgillmore | October 17, 2009, 9:05 am 9:05 am
I read most of everyones ‘blog’. There is no unemployment in India. You act like that India has the same laws and employment rules as we do here in the states. False. I do agree that these actions are unsafe in the airline industry, but we are talking about foreign laws here. The FAA does not control foreign air. These people should be let go and never fly again, but, again, we are talking about a Foreign carrier, here.
Posted by: Confused24hrs | October 18, 2009, 1:51 am 1:51 am
What a bunch of morons! I’m with every one to let them all go and ban them from ever working in such a job where others safety is dependent on them. Unreal!!!
Posted by: Letme | October 18, 2009, 11:09 pm 11:09 pm
The irresponsibility of the mid air act should not treated lightly. What happened to professionalism? One should not even glance at this airline, except if you are contemplating suicide. What a bunch of incompetents.
Posted by: odofo | October 19, 2009, 8:33 pm 8:33 pm
Remind me to never again consider flying Air India—they are now on my blacklist of Airlines to never use except in a dire emergency and even then only if they are the last airline left.
If this is a stunt—then it has backfired around the world. The flying public has gotten very jittery after 911 and has become very concerned about the safety and reliabilty of the airlines they fly. We have recently been told of a group of terrorist that were going to Bomb a flight from London to the US but fortunately New Scotland Yard et al caught them before they could do damge. There is the Lockerbie incident—another incident in which a Plane crashed and killed most aboard from Calcutta to Australia. Then there is the Brazilian Airline that seemed to go off the radar that crashed.
Airlines that can not guarantee the safety of their passengers and do not properly maintain their planes do not deserve to be in business.
Posted by: ludwig | October 20, 2009, 4:01 pm 4:01 pm
These planes are on autopilot. The passengers were in no danger.
Crappy article didn’t even show a picture of the inspiration for all the commotion. I mean, I want to see if it was worth it. Her picture, and her email, might get her good marriage offers if she looks “right”. Somebody send me her picture (not really).
Posted by: Jim | October 21, 2009, 2:02 am 2:02 am
This is simply another indication of why the third world is referred to as such…
Posted by: John Morris | October 21, 2009, 11:33 am 11:33 am
What a world this has become! No one seems to be able to control their behavior anymore..in fact, they seem to have no interest. What a disgraceful display..they should all be fired.
Posted by: leogorky | October 21, 2009, 3:31 pm 3:31 pm
ha haaaaaaaa,
Why is everyone so uptight? What else do you expect to happen when you’re flying over “Pakistan Air Space”?
Posted by: Joe | October 21, 2009, 10:05 pm 10:05 pm
This shows the character of these people they lack professionalism, ethics and regards to safety of the passengers. Sacked all of the involved parties, or as expected pilots will be exonerated worst a suspension or being reprimanded. The rank and file stewardess will be forced out of service. I will never that damn Air India, as long as all the involved parties are sacked.
Posted by: luckycharm | October 24, 2009, 6:55 am 6:55 am
what is it with that nationality of people?….dont want to seem racist..I mean..I have plenty of Paki friends who all are assets to society..and some of the best friends I’ve ever had..ever will have…but over there..they act like animals..no self control. I dont get it.
Posted by: Leigh | October 24, 2009, 10:24 am 10:24 am
Maybe the crew got tired of being called Stewardesses (particularly the male one). I think it became Flight Attendant like, 20 years ago.
Posted by: c | October 27, 2009, 2:37 pm 2:37 pm
If an employee of Home Depot got fired for wearing an unauthorized pin on his apron, well these people only put 160 peoples live on the line. Well at least give them a reprimand, and sweep it under the flying rug!!!!
Posted by: Daniel | October 28, 2009, 2:50 pm 2:50 pm
I encourage all the passengers to take the airlines to court and sue for reckless endangerment,mental anguish,posttraumatic stress syndrome,and a form of victim abuse not to mention attempted mass murder with a deadly weapon- everyone of those lives were helpless hostage to the crew putting their lives in danger- jail time large fines and revoking license to never hold a job responsible for human safety ever!
Posted by: aray | October 28, 2009, 3:58 pm 3:58 pm
Let’s relax & get to the bottom of this…
Posted by: Chy? | October 29, 2009, 3:34 am 3:34 am
can anyone say ghana airways?
Posted by: kad | October 29, 2009, 5:28 pm 5:28 pm
And we thought the Northwest fly over was bad.
Posted by: paul | October 29, 2009, 6:20 pm 6:20 pm
ok Adrian there’s no movie coming out like that, salman and srk are not working together.
IDK if it’s true of not
Posted by: nikki | October 29, 2009, 7:29 pm 7:29 pm
And here all along I thought the new cockpit security measures were to protect the crew members from the passengers; but now I see it’s the other way around. Any ways, this beats the dreary inflight movies. Soon the fights will be sanctioned by the UFC.
Posted by: L. James | October 30, 2009, 4:40 am 4:40 am
I blame the 2 pilots. They were both aware of what being a pilot is – to fly a plane WHILE IT IS FLYING.
The crew could scream all they want, but both pilots should have locked their door and paid attention to what mattered the most – the safety of their passengers.
Posted by: Gglia | October 30, 2009, 7:09 pm 7:09 pm
Fighting is not necessarily bad. It relief stress and promote team sprit (beween the pilots and between the stewardess). Look what had happened …the landed the plane safely. After all Planes are in Auto Pilot most of the time anyway.
Posted by: Tolossa | November 1, 2009, 3:42 am 3:42 am
LOL There goes India’s hope to show they can be “superpower”
Posted by: jeanne | November 1, 2009, 6:37 pm 6:37 pm
I agree with you, TXPDelta! They should all be fired and the airline forced to change their training for crews. Not to mention the way they’re allowedd to treat stewardesses. Just another sign of an instable “ally”.
Posted by: pat cross | November 1, 2009, 11:43 pm 11:43 pm
Boy I’ll tell ya! Just when you think you’ve seen it all, something new and improved comes along. I’m at a loss for words! WOW!!!!!!
Posted by: blessed and highly favored | November 2, 2009, 7:57 am 7:57 am
At this time termination of all four participants would be the most appropriate option. Even if she was harassed, the time to bring that up would be after the plane has landed after the safety of passengers is secured, There are channels thru which this can be done after the plane has anded safely
Posted by: gnam | November 2, 2009, 11:43 pm 11:43 pm
“Hello, welcome to Air India how may I help you?”
“Ah ya, I would like to report an issue with one of your flights ”
“ok, first, is your plane plugged in ? ”
“ah excuse me ? ”
“ok, now please reboot the plane”..
“what are you talking about ?”
“did that fix the problem ?”
Posted by: Sam | November 3, 2009, 11:41 am 11:41 am
Gee…I haven’t flown in an airliner since a trip to Parris Island, S.C., in the early ’70′s.
I refuse to ever fly ‘American’ or ‘United’ Airlines as they didn’t (remotely) do the right things on/before Sept. 11th. ’01, when their aircraft hit buildings despite all the
‘robust’ security!
Oh, I forgot a minor point:
The last time this American worked 365 days in a row, (or more), continously, was AT (the Late, Great), 1 World Trade Center!
Posted by: W. Lasten | November 5, 2009, 6:10 pm 6:10 pm
Western technology does not always equal western attitudes of comportment. We would be wise to keep that in mind.
Posted by: Bruno | November 5, 2009, 8:07 pm 8:07 pm
IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS HAPPENED.I HAVE BEEN A FLIGHT ATTENDANT FOR 22YRS. AND WITH TODAY’S DUTY SCHEDULES 13-14HRS A DAY,UNBELIEVABLY RUDE AND OUT OF CONTROL PASSENGERS,CARRYONS ITEMS EVERYTHING FROM LAWNMOVERS TO XMAS TREES TO ANIMALS SMUGGLED IN THEIR POCKETS, IT ONLY STANDS TO REASON THE STRESS IS EFFECTING BOTH SIDES OF THE COCKPIT DOOR.WHILE I DO NOT CONDONE THEIR BEHAVIOR,I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND IT.
Posted by: BONNIE | November 6, 2009, 11:00 am 11:00 am
I witnessed a similar incident in 2004 , on a united flight from toronto to denver the stewardesses had a mini brawl in the kitchen of the plane just after take off. not fun for my daughter to watch. it was over a late stewardess who replaced a no show , and the argument was over who was in charge
it was freaky.
Posted by: perry | November 6, 2009, 11:51 am 11:51 am
I just got to the bottom of these posts, and there were the Sponsored Links to places wanting to sell me airline tickets….
Posted by: Mary | November 8, 2009, 12:06 am 12:06 am
It’s time to kill this story. It’s been floating on here for weeks.
Posted by: ao | November 9, 2009, 6:42 am 6:42 am
Thank you, come again.
Posted by: David Lizama | November 9, 2009, 3:16 pm 3:16 pm
Slap fight! Slap fight!
I was on an online MUSH roleplaying game years ago where a couple of Orks driving the truck you were riding did that and it was a funny part of the game, but in real life? On a plane? Yikes!
Posted by: Jersey Dave | November 9, 2009, 5:44 pm 5:44 pm
I flew with Air India once not coz i wanted to but had to and the had the worst nightmare….The cabin crew were rude and had no manners. Never again i will fly with Air India..
Posted by: ram | November 10, 2009, 1:30 am 1:30 am
Guys, this is a Indian goverment airline company. There is no thing called firing in India.
These people are human too, how else can they sort thigs out! Fake smiles dont get you anywhere!
There is no problem with the flight being on autopilot for a while. Worse things have happened all over the world, like sex during flight between pilots and attendants
Posted by: This IS India !! | November 10, 2009, 8:58 am 8:58 am
Hmmm looks like the crew need to include ‘crew resource management’ in their training! Firing them will not be a solution.
Posted by: wangare | November 13, 2009, 1:26 pm 1:26 pm
why even go to a 3rd world country
Posted by: steve | November 13, 2009, 4:47 pm 4:47 pm
Rule number ONE of airline travel…Never ever fly on an airline based in a country where you will not drink the tap water.
Rule number TWO… never fly on an airline from a country in which cows are worshiped.
Posted by: wuffo | November 15, 2009, 10:49 am 10:49 am
No wonder India remains a 3rd World Country. Hard to believe that with a population of approximately 1.1 billion they put these four clowns on the same flight! What happened to “fly the friendly skies”?
Posted by: Ernesto | November 16, 2009, 7:38 pm 7:38 pm
Good man JOHAN you saw right through the fiendish plot. The director in fact wanted to make a movie about pilots sleeping in flight or surfing Facebook but the cast workshopped and adlibbed their way to an oscar-potential performance.
Posted by: Shadeburst | November 18, 2009, 9:00 am 9:00 am
Fired them at once.
Posted by: ryilktyilr | November 20, 2009, 9:20 am 9:20 am
If India Air can’t survive as an airline they might consider selling tickets to the WWE, mid air, cage, smack down, Rumble In The Sky. If that sounds absurd, it not half as absurd as these individuals still being employed.
Posted by: Andre | November 22, 2009, 10:29 am 10:29 am
Just never ever fly on any commercial airline. Seriously. Learn to fly yourself. It’s almost as fast, certainly more convenient, and anymore, just about as safe, safer than driving.
Posted by: Bruce | November 22, 2009, 3:50 pm 3:50 pm
Those poor passengers. They should be compensated for enduring the stress of this debacle.
Were the pilots lacking sleep and over stressed themselves or where they just dunderheads?
Posted by: jack | November 22, 2009, 10:32 pm 10:32 pm
Suspend and fire them eventually because they can not put at risk 106 lives in danger. Also, We in Africa get to pay lots of money everytime Air India cancels or delays their flights as almost the sectors of ones itinerary is entirely changed. Its quite ashaming and a menace for a national airline.
Posted by: Millie | November 24, 2009, 4:52 am 4:52 am
Yeah this was really scary. Like imagined if Apu left the quiky mart during a brawl between Skinner and Barney. There would be real heck to pay
Posted by: pinjab | November 24, 2009, 3:45 pm 3:45 pm
No, Lee has what we call “a sense of humor”.
Posted by: sue | November 25, 2009, 10:09 am 10:09 am
This sounds worse than that movie “SoulPlane” where Snoop Dog played the pilot and had a nightclub with bouncers on the plane.
Posted by: Rita Martin | November 30, 2009, 6:11 pm 6:11 pm
They were fighting over who would go first during their “mile High” club meeting.
Posted by: Dave | December 1, 2009, 12:30 pm 12:30 pm
I guess I better get my own jet. I wish I had the money
Posted by: flyboy | December 2, 2009, 6:33 pm 6:33 pm
Hellooo can i help you,,,one moment plaese,,tankyou vryyyyyyyy much,,How can i help you?? Thankgod the plane didnt crash…crazyyyyyyyyyyyyy,,,
Posted by: smplytim | December 4, 2009, 12:22 am 12:22 am
Slumdogs!!! They are always the problem in the Middle East, actually everywhere. They shouldn’t be allowed to leave their country.
Posted by: Howard | December 6, 2009, 2:12 pm 2:12 pm
Fired them all and punished them with taking away their licences and fine them..
Posted by: henry | December 7, 2009, 12:41 pm 12:41 pm
I flew an 18 hour flight on Air India and all I can say is- Not Surprised. Horrible Experience. I’ll never forget the appalling conditions in bathrooms created by the customers. (I’m talking FECES everywhere including the walls.) The worst part is that no one from the crew serviced them. Flat out-Disgusting.
Pilots and crew fighting like this? Probably happens more than we think.
Posted by: Billy D. | December 7, 2009, 5:13 pm 5:13 pm
Maybe the Pilot should have taken a nap so he wouldn’t be so cranky.
Posted by: Brian P | December 8, 2009, 2:38 pm 2:38 pm
Who are these damn dummies. What is up with these airlines and the people they are hiring? The incidents of pilots jeopardizing the customers safety is increasing something needs to be done and soon or we are headed for an air disaster due to their lack of conscience and ability to hold it together., Get rid of them and file charges to the fullest extent of the law. Needless to say I will not be travelling on Air India or any other airline which has such an incident. Send a message
Posted by: Dash | December 8, 2009, 8:21 pm 8:21 pm
I flew Air India this year – a total of 4 flights in 9 day period. It was, without a doubt, the very worst experience I have had in over 35 years of air travel on 4 continents. The service was worse than terrible.
Conversely, I also flew on Kingfisher which was one of the finest air travel experiences I have had in 35 years. The next time I travel to India, I will not even consider Air India.
Posted by: LeapingBuck | December 8, 2009, 9:06 pm 9:06 pm
It is sad to see how truely stupid the human race has become.
Posted by: janice | December 9, 2009, 10:15 am 10:15 am
This is very upsetting. I am canceling my flight and family flights with Air India.
We will NEVER use them again. Overall, the men should have been truly mature and responsible.
Posted by: Scheduled Passenger | December 9, 2009, 11:56 am 11:56 am
The passengers should receive their monies paid, as a gesture of apology.
This is truly sad, surprising and a major downfall to a company bearing the name of India.
Posted by: Scheduled Passenger | December 9, 2009, 11:59 am 11:59 am
Bollywood movie explan. the best==it
was a publicity stunt to prove the
air india has ultimate faith in their
excellent computer auto pilots.
What’s next???
Posted by: Maisey | December 9, 2009, 8:42 pm 8:42 pm
Was flying SW Airlines during holidays
when the stewart, handsome and debonair
sang x-mas songs as we sipped our
airline toddies. The Pilot and Crew
did stay at post, with big smiles and
what a lovely happly holiday flight.
Would be nice–more creativity ???
Posted by: Maisey | December 9, 2009, 8:45 pm 8:45 pm
George was flying the plane. If programmed correctly George can takeoff, fly to destination, then land. And George takes no breaks of any kind, does not fight with anyone, and requires no pay. Just a little maintenace now and then. You can always depend on George to do the job, especially when you don’t want to.
Posted by: ZEEMADMAN | December 10, 2009, 2:44 am 2:44 am
hi
Posted by: john | December 11, 2009, 8:28 am 8:28 am
I wonder if the book and movie rights for this little escapade is already in the works.
Posted by: Gary | December 13, 2009, 10:03 pm 10:03 pm
I’m not surprised, on my trip to India from LA, one of the cabin crew was attaching a toilet door whilst passengers were entering the plane and my seat had one side of a seat belt. I had to ask for the other side! Additionally, you could look up and see all the dust bunnies – it was a very unclean plane.
Posted by: psmith | December 14, 2009, 11:34 am 11:34 am
I can’t wait for that one, the passengers and crew dancing in unison on the wings of the aircraft in flight… with a slight breeze blowing the lead actresses hair in slow motion… Bollywood.
Posted by: Tom | December 14, 2009, 12:50 pm 12:50 pm
Wow. They were really fighting over what flavor of slushys are the best
Posted by: jim | December 14, 2009, 1:02 pm 1:02 pm
Does anyone realize this happened in India? Some of you are commenting as if this happened right here in the USA.
Had this happened here, it would be a nonissue. The FAA and the airline employing these unprofessional clowns would have booted them out of their respective careers faster than you can say T-S-A.
Posted by: Brian | December 15, 2009, 12:06 pm 12:06 pm
I just don’t believe it. Sounds like a setup for some kind of movie publicity. If it is true, put the pilots in jail and a hearing on the conduct of other staff. I smell a rat!
Posted by: unclesam328 | December 16, 2009, 1:52 am 1:52 am
If I may answer for Lee,
“Lee why would you want to slap a pilot when you call tech support?!”
I think Lee was referring to tech support calls in general often being routed to personnel in India.
Posted by: Charlie | December 16, 2009, 11:07 am 11:07 am
Frankly, the only thing that came out is that both parties have endangered the lives of the passangers and themselves. Rather than calling ground control for instructions or solving their problems once they land, they decided to have a fight endangering lives of women, men and children.
I agree, they should be prosecuted and fired. Over all investigation should be done immiediatly.
Posted by: prashant | December 16, 2009, 6:39 pm 6:39 pm
Actually, threatenting to land in Karachi appears to be a terroristic threat. Get out the waterboard. That’ll be new in a Bolly flick!
Posted by: tom chi | December 22, 2009, 3:49 pm 3:49 pm
Shut the airline down for good before you lose any more money. You can’t compete in today’s market.
Posted by: Keith | December 23, 2009, 2:30 pm 2:30 pm
fire them all, no excuse for this
Posted by: alhall | December 26, 2009, 8:18 am 8:18 am
What is needed is the professionalism of Capt. Scully who landed plane in the Hudson River … New York…
A real professional and Hero
Posted by: Eddie L | January 1, 2010, 1:10 pm 1:10 pm
I wonder what would have happened if these two pilots were armed with guns?
Posted by: Vic T. | January 2, 2010, 6:48 pm 6:48 pm
Now why couldn’t they have plots like that on Wings?
Posted by: J | January 2, 2010, 7:10 pm 7:10 pm
what is this world tunning into,do these people think that what ever problems the have is more important than that of the lives at risk. these people are terorist is just that their plan did not work as the planned to kill every one on board the flight.
Posted by: ok | January 4, 2010, 11:06 am 11:06 am
make the whole crew spend 24 hours in dell computer call center
Posted by: yooperz | January 4, 2010, 7:09 pm 7:09 pm
@Johan – In case you didn’t know, writing in all caps suggest you are yelling at your audience.
Posted by: Gerald | January 5, 2010, 3:22 pm 3:22 pm
Pilots only take off and land planes, they don’t actually fly them anymore.
So they blew off a little steam. I’m sure nobody was in any danger.
Posted by: steve | January 7, 2010, 1:13 pm 1:13 pm
Shocking behavior that should not be tolerated and it seems it happens all the time with Air India. There was a flight about six months ago where the two pilots fell asleep and overflew their destination (Delhi). Thankfully they woke up and safely landed. I would not fly that airline for all the tea in China.
Posted by: Cynthia | January 8, 2010, 6:57 am 6:57 am
Johan, don’t forget the big Bollywood musical finale with all the passengers dancing and singing backup for the flight crew as the aircraft flat-spins toward the ground.
Posted by: Ron | January 8, 2010, 1:56 pm 1:56 pm
Wow! This should really instill confidence in this airline! Makes Delta look so much better than before.
Posted by: killsing | January 9, 2010, 6:17 am 6:17 am
Everything about India sucks!
Is there anything that the country is accomplished at??
Posted by: Some Guy | January 10, 2010, 3:20 pm 3:20 pm
You get what you pay for! The flight attendants get paid less than McDonnald’s employees and the pilots paid less than bus drivers. The QUALIFIED crewmembers have all been leaving the industry for the last 5 years and continue to flee. Attacting quality replacements is impossible so all the airlines have radically lowered their standards to fill vacancies. The next 5 to 10 years will only get worse.
Posted by: Sean | January 10, 2010, 6:06 pm 6:06 pm
What is a “stewardess”? I have worked in the airline industry for 28 years and never heard that term once. Do they mean “flight attendant” maybe?
Posted by: Chris M. | January 11, 2010, 6:00 pm 6:00 pm
ground control:
Flight 884 this is control
flight 884:
GC: Flight 884 respond
flight 884:
GC: flight 884 respond
flight 884:
GC: flight 884 respond
flight 884:
GC: flight 884,you are over Pakistan; respond
flight 884:
GC: flight 884, interceptors have been launched
flight 884: ground control, sorry we were on autopilot, having a brawl with sorry crew. cockpit on lockdown. stewardess asked to use head but was denied. have security meet flight at gate.
GC: roger that!
Posted by: john copeland | January 12, 2010, 5:35 pm 5:35 pm
What is wrong with these people? Whatever their religion..Hindu..muslim..they are out of control emotionally.
Posted by: jaydee | January 13, 2010, 1:17 pm 1:17 pm
Is this the coming world’s super power? People in the west are just going crazy. India is a third world country and will remain so for another 200 years. Stop kidding yourselves! Bet on China.
Posted by: roger mathew | January 13, 2010, 2:52 pm 2:52 pm
A bit late in the day but I just got to this news now. The slution is simple. The Airline should insist that ALL passengers undergo training and produce their Airline Pilots Licence BEFORE being permitted to board an Air India flight. Pilots and Crew can then knock the daylights out of each other and provide in-flight entertainment …
Posted by: Raymond Potgieter | January 14, 2010, 1:05 pm 1:05 pm
Why in the dickens do they have job at all? Are these typical among people from India…brawling in public?
Posted by: Jay | January 18, 2010, 3:24 pm 3:24 pm
SLUMDOG!!
Posted by: SUswinder | January 20, 2010, 4:07 pm 4:07 pm
I’m only appalled for the folks in first class.
They deserve so much more than this.
For everyone else? Hey, you get what you pay for ;-)
Posted by: JAKE | January 26, 2010, 12:11 pm 12:11 pm
If this is true, then it’s incredible.
Over the years Air India has had it’s share of problems…and that’s perhaps one of the reasons why they are often one of the cheaper airlines for travel to/from India.
Of course, we also must remember the recent incident in the US, where the pilots weren’t paying attention and overshot their destination by something like a hundred miles, so perhaps bizarre things can happen in cockpits anywhere.
Posted by: Worldwide Travel Ideas | January 27, 2010, 4:43 pm 4:43 pm
I asked Obama about this and he said it was Bush’s fault.
Posted by: Duje | January 29, 2010, 5:51 pm 5:51 pm
The whole issue could have been avoided if the cockpit crew had stayed in the cockpit! The cabin crew where in their designated work area.
Once the pilots left the cockpit, and no one was flying the aircraft, they put everyones life in danger. They were the agressors.
If the sexual harrassment allegations are true, then the pilots should not only be fired they should revoke their pilot certificates.
Posted by: Chuck | January 30, 2010, 3:40 pm 3:40 pm
a perfect routine for Saturday Night Live
Posted by: rhon | January 30, 2010, 10:20 pm 10:20 pm
NIGHTMARE!
Has anyone ever flown on “great RUSSIAN AIRLINES?” Some years ago, my elderly Mom was dumped in London …from one of her first ever trip to India on a ‘FULLY-PAID’ return trip to New York. She had NO MONEY to get home. Good thing my brother in London,came to her rescue and paid for her to get home. Sadly, the poor thing, has since died.
Posted by: Leila | February 4, 2010, 10:41 am 10:41 am
That was very unprofessional. Fire them all. ppls lives are at stake
Posted by: Henry | February 10, 2010, 9:48 am 9:48 am
Skinny drivers fighting over fat groupies is a daily occurrence at many Deli taxi stands.
Posted by: Katz Patel-Ajamas | February 11, 2010, 10:05 am 10:05 am
I’ve flown Air India ONCE. And NEVER again. Mind you, not because of this article… because Air India was the WORST flying experience of my life. This outrageous story doesn’t surprise me.
Posted by: Will | February 13, 2010, 2:07 pm 2:07 pm
There’s a reason some of us won’t fly third-world air carriers. If it’s not a US or EU flagged airline (or one of a civilized nation like Israel or Japan), we wonder what types of standards flight crews are enforced. I realize that India has come a long way in the world (and good for them) but it’s still a nation of warring tribal cultures (Hindu, Muslim, Sikh). Not saying that the Anglocentric world is free of kooks and irresponsible people, but we do have a better record of keeping such people off of flight status…
Posted by: speedstan | February 14, 2010, 3:56 pm 3:56 pm
I agree with LEE they should be smacked…If not but for their horrible tech support…Aghhh!
Posted by: beefeater | February 15, 2010, 10:43 am 10:43 am
God save us. what could possibly happen next in this bizarre world.An unmanned plane because of crew fighting?
Posted by: jah bless | February 17, 2010, 3:50 am 3:50 am
The governor of the state of Texas, Rick “Big Hair” Perry wants to arm pilots and crew with handguns, thus this type of tussle could be resolved by Smith and Wesson, and the airlines could charge extra for pillows, blankets and Kevlar vests.
Posted by: Tim | February 17, 2010, 1:41 pm 1:41 pm
So this was supposed to be a Bollywood publicity stunt? Played out in-flight by whom? Actors? In the post-9/11 world it’s hard to imagine anything of the sort even being contemplated let alone executed.
I realize that not every nation made adjustments in their lives and businesses but one would think the Mumbai attacks would be fresh in India’s memory. Apparently not for the movie hucksters. Heads should roll even if it was a ruse.
Posted by: stendec47 | February 17, 2010, 2:50 pm 2:50 pm
I’m a firm believer that some good comes out of even the most tragic of situations. Perhaps, even would-be hijackers would reconsider their plans once they were exposed to the likes of this crazy crew!!!
Posted by: Dewey20209 | February 18, 2010, 5:27 pm 5:27 pm
have an over population problem, run airlines the wya china and india runs them to help with population control… just lovely eh? one more airline I will be avoiding
Posted by: johnson | February 20, 2010, 4:09 pm 4:09 pm
What shameful, and criminal behavior of those professional adults who were representatives of not only Air India, but the whole of India!
Posted by: lophat | February 27, 2010, 12:01 pm 12:01 pm
Typical human behavior, nothing new here.
Posted by: TypicalHumans | March 1, 2010, 2:52 pm 2:52 pm
It’s a stupid #### but true reflection of the plight of Indian pilots n crew…. Feel sorry for all of them!!!
Posted by: Harry G | March 2, 2010, 7:32 pm 7:32 pm