Two Air France pilots suspended after physical fight in cockpit

PARIS: Air France pilots are under scrutiny after a series of incidents that have raised concerns over safety protocols on flights operated by the French flagship carrier, prompting aviation investigators to reprimand the airline last week.
The latest incident to come to light involved two pilots who were suspended after a physical fight in the cockpit of an A320 plane in flight from Geneva to Paris in June, a spokesman for Air France said on Monday. He added the flight continued on and landed safely. The news of the fight has come amid broader concerns about flight safety at Air France. A few days ago, French investigators issued a report saying the airline's pilots lacked rigour in following safety procedures.
Investigators said several recent incidents suggested "that a certain culture has been established among some Air France crews, favouring a propensity to underestimate the benefits of a strict application of procedures for safety".
The dispute between the two pilots began shortly after takeoff when one refused to follow an instruction, La Tribune newspaper reported. After one of them reportedly hit the other, the two grabbed each other's collars. Cabin crew quickly intervened, and one crew member spent the rest of the flight in the cockpit to prevent the fight from resuming.
An Air France spokesman confirmed the two pilots had exchanged "inappropriate gestures" in what he described as a physical altercation. He added the suspended pilots "are awaiting a managerial decision on the incident".