Two Air India co-pilots had a fight in the cockpit of a commercial jet prior to takeoff.

Two Air India co-pilots had a fight in the cockpit of a commercial jet prior to takeoff. (SP).

A spokesman for Air India announced on Monday that the co-pilots of Sunday's flight from Jaipur to Delhi have been suspended pending an investigation by the airline, following reports that they had a fight in the cockpit prior to takeoff.

According to sources in the airline, the conflict began after the captain of flight AI 611 asked his copilot to take notes of critical data for the flight prior to take-off. The co-pilot, instead of complying with the request, is alleged to have physically attacked his colleague.

The captain involved reportedly complained to superiors after landing in Delhi about the copilot, who airline staff told local media has previously been the subject of complaints from colleagues about "his 'rude and unbecoming' behavior in the cockpit and questioned his state of mind."

On Sunday it was reported that the DGCA was consulting with medical experts over the introduction of more stringent checks on the mental state of pilots. These could include regular mental health checkups and psychometric testing for pilots, who currently undergo assessment only at the beginning of their flying career, whereas physical fitness tests are carried out every six months. Read the full story here.