(CNN) — Two Air France pilots have been concerned in an inflight altercation and exchanged “inappropriate gestures” whereas within the cockpit of an A320 heading from Geneva to Paris, the airline confirmed on Monday.
The spat, which occurred in June 2022, led to the suspension of each pilots, who haven’t been named by Air France.
“The incident was shortly resolved with out affecting the conduct or security of the flight, which continued usually,” an airline spokesperson stated in a press release.
“The pilots involved are at present suspended from flying and are awaiting a managerial choice on the result/therapy of the incident. Air France reminds that the protection of its prospects and crew members is its absolute precedence.”
Though the incident happened two months in the past, it grew to become public because of a narrative final week within the French-language Geneva Tribune newspaper, which alleges there are bigger structural points with Air France.
CNN has not confirmed any of the extra allegations.
The Bureau of Enquiry and Evaluation for Civil Aviation Security (BEA), the French governmental division that oversees the aviation business, stated it “has issued a security advice in regards to the operator’s compliance with procedures.”
The BEA report stated pilots didn’t comply with gas leak procedures that require the affected engine to be shut down to scale back hearth danger, leading to “a considerable discount within the flight’s security margin, the hearth having been averted by likelihood.”
This isn’t an remoted case, BEA stated. “Via a sure variety of latest investigations,” they noticed “that the crews involved had not, for numerous causes, voluntarily or not, carried out sure procedures in a compliant method,” the company stated in the identical report.
The Boeing 777 plane, which had departed from New York Metropolis, landed efficiently and no passengers or crew members have been injured. Air France stated its pilots appropriately responded to the state of affairs by circling and making a second try at touchdown.
Air France, which was based in 1933, is the nation’s nationwide flag provider.
Prime picture credit score: AP Picture/Christophe Ena, File
Renée Bertini in Paris contributed to this report
