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.

Pakistani Hijack attempt foiled on board Air India flight to London?

Pakistani Hijack attempt foiled on board Air India flight to London? . (HT).

Indian airlines have warned crew members to be on their guard, citing an alleged incident on board a recent international flight where there was a suspicious attempt to gain access to the cockpit.

According to an email sent to Jet Airways pilots on Friday, which HT has seen, a passenger allegedly feigned illness and five others claiming to be doctors volunteered medical assistance. After examining the “sick” passenger, they insisted strongly on meeting the captain, but were refused permission.

“Their persistence was suspect and the captain refused to meet the doctors either inside or outside the cockpit,” reads the note.

According to aviation sources, this occurred on a recent Air India flight to London.

A check was subsequently carried out, which revealed the five were Pakistani nationals. “They were all Pakistan passport holders and their contact numbers, when tried, were found to be fictitious. The patient is also being considered a suspect,” the note says.

Similar accounts have been sent to cabin crew at other airlines, with strict instructions that no “unauthorised” person is to be allowed entry to the cockpit at any cost, aviation sources said.

Top intelligence officials, however, dismissed the claims. Air India declined to comment while attempts to elicit a response from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security also went unanswered.

Other senior government officials who would ordinarily have been briefed on such a matter told HT they were unaware of any such incident. But the aviation sector seemed spooked.

“It has sent shockwaves through the aviation security establishment. All crew have now been intimated to be very alert and strictly adhere to a no-admission into the flight deck policy,” said one pilot with a private airline. Hmmmm.......You won't read this in the MSM.