Air New Zealand investigates reported dispute between two pilots in San Francisco
A return flight from San Francisco to Auckland was cancelled and the airline cited a pilot's illness, but media reports say two pilots had argued in the crew hotel. The carrier has opened an investigation and the civil aviation authority has been notified.
Air New Zealand is looking into an incident involving two of its pilots in San Francisco. A scheduled return flight to Auckland was cancelled and rescheduled for the following day.
Flight NZ7 was due to leave San Francisco on 7 September but did not operate. Passengers were told by email that the pilot assigned to the flight could no longer operate it because of illness, according to New Zealand media. The service was rebooked as NZ6077 and departed on 8 September. Passengers said the aircraft was lightly booked and the few economy travellers were allowed to spread out through the cabin.
Several media outlets have since reported that the pilot was not ill and that the two pilots had been involved in an altercation in the crew hotel. A former Air New Zealand pilot, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the NZ Herald he had heard from several current employees that the two had argued earlier during a flight and that the situation escalated further in the hotel lobby in San Francisco. Exactly what happened remains unclear.
The matter has been referred to the Civil Aviation Authority. The regulator declined to comment further, saying employment matters are the responsibility of the airline. According to Radio New Zealand, the authority reviews all information brought to its attention and decides whether regulatory action is needed.
Air New Zealand said it is examining the case. The carrier operates five flights a week between Auckland and San Francisco using the Boeing 787-9.
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Sources
- aerotelegraph.comFiel ein Flug von Air New Zealand aus, weil sich zwei Piloten gestritten haben?