by Donald Wood
Last updated: 12:35 AM ET, Fri January 5, 2018
Two Jet Airways pilots have been grounded after they were involved in a mid-flight altercation during an international flight on New Year's Day.
According to NDTV.com, the Jet Airways plane was flying from London on a nine-hour journey to Mumbai when the male co-pilot and his female captain got into an argument which resulted in the co-pilot slapping his commander.
The Indian Director General of Civil Aviation said the captain reportedly stormed out of the cockpit in tears, but was persuaded by crew members to return to the controls a short time later after the co-pilot also exited the cockpit.
There were 324 passengers onboard the flight at the time of the altercation.
A Jet Airways spokesperson told the Times of India that the misunderstanding between pilots was "resolved amicably" and that the plane managed to land safely in Mumbai at just after midnight local time on January 2.
The airline also said it would help the captain take legal action against the co-pilot.
Civil aviation authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, and representatives in the Parliament of India are calling for harsh punishments to be levied against the airline and the pilots.
"At Jet Airways, safety of guests, crew and assets is of paramount importance and the airline has zero tolerance for any action of its employees that compromises safety," a Jet Airways spokesperson told the Guardian.
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