Pilots and cabin crew in alleged brawl at 30,000ft

PASSENGERS witnessed an alleged brawl between pilots and cabin crew as an Air India jet flew at 30,000ft on Sunday, it was revealed yesterday.

Punches were reportedly thrown in the incident on an Airbus A320 plane flying from the United Arab Emirates to Delhi.

It is understood the incident arose after a stewardess was allegedly abused and pushed in the cockpit after refusing to grant the pilots “personal favours”.

Another crew member intervened and a fight allegedly ensued.

The plane had taken off from Sharjah.

Air India has now grounded two pilots and two cabin crew members following the incident.

According to The Times, Air India said: “The incident of [a] scuffle between the two pilots and cabin crew members of [flight] IC-884 was reported yesterday morning.

“As there have been claims and counter-claims between the parties involved, the management has ordered an inquiry, which is still in progress. Further action will be decided based on the inquiry report.”

Delhi police were quoted as saying a stewardess sustained bruises and hand injuries and that her complaint was that she had been “abused, manhandled and assaulted in an undignified way”.

But it has also been reported that the two pilots claimed that a male flight attendant started the incident with misconduct that threatened the safety of the 106 passengers and seven crew.