Recently there was news that the commander and a lady co-pilot had a fight while piloting an aircraft from London to Mumbai. As per the report the commander allegedly slapped the lady and in a huff she came crying out of the cockpit. After requests from the crew members she went in and again came out.
The second time the commander came out leaving the cockpit unattended to convince the lady to return. This episode happened in the presence of hundreds of frightened passengers. On landing at Mumbai the commander and the co-pilot were grounded and the license of the lady was suspended because she came out of the cockpit.
This harrowing episode raises several concerns. Was it right on the part of the commander (who is also a trainer) to slap his colleague? Why was the license of the commander not suspended?
Was it not a blunder by the commander to come out forgetting the consequence if the cockpit door had closed? Did not both the persons think of the passengers and the crew whose lives were at stake?
When a passenger misbehaves, he or she is arrested by the police but these pilots went scot free. A few months back an MLA was debarred from flying by all the airlines because he allegedly slapped an airline employee.
The airlines come together to protect their own interests and causes but do not take up the cudgels when it concerns the safety, convenience and comfort of passengers who pay through their noses. Any airlines should be aware that the passengers trust them with their lives (literally and figuratively).
Perhaps a day would come when passengers would boycott those airlines which do not punish their employees for their misdeeds, including drinking and piloting.
Like a law that is enacted to protect the airlines’ employees so should there be one to help the harassed passengers.
