File photo: An Air India Plane taking off
Two Air India pilots have been grounded after allegedly getting into a fight inside the cockpit.
The captain and his co-pilot were readying for take-off on Sunday evening on a flight from Jaipur to Delhi when the argument started after the captain reportedly addressed his deputy as "uncle".
Denying reports of a physical scuffle, an Air India spokesperson said there were heated exchanges and the issue was later resolved. The flight took off and a complaint was later filed by the commander.
"We are probing the issue and based on the findings of the report, we will take appropriate action," the spokesperson said.
The fight was reportedly triggered by the captain asking his deputy to note of critical data like the number of passengers on board, take-off weight and other details for a card that is kept in the cockpit during the flight.
Press Trust of India reports that the senior pilot, who was younger in age, had actually called the co-pilot "uncle" while asking him to prep the mandatory flight details.
Press Trust of India quotes a source saying: "The co-pilot of the flight was quite senior in age. When the commander was readying for take-off, he asked him to take down some details, but addressing him as uncle. The junior pilot took umbrage it and this led to argument."
Air India -- which has not reported an annual profit since 2007 -- has been hit by a string of technical glitches and other embarrassing incidents, including staff turning up late for flights.
Many airlines have introduced a rule requiring two crew in the cockpit at all times following the crash of a Germanwings plane last month. The co-pilot Andreas Lubitz deliberately smashed the plane into the French Alps after locking the captain out of the cockpit, killing all 150 people on board.