by Donald Wood
Last updated: 11:33 AM ET, Mon July 30, 2018
Two pilots working for Iraqi Airways have been suspended after they were involved in a verbal altercation that became physical during a flight last week.
According to The Independent, the Iraqi Airways flight was traveling Wednesday from Mashhad, Iran, to Baghdad, Iraq, when the two unidentified pilots got into an argument over a food tray after the captain claimed his co-pilot didn't ask him for authorization.
The co-pilot sent a letter explaining the incident to Iraqi Airways, saying the captain attacked him physically and he was simply defending himself before a security agent arrived and separated them.
Once the plane and the 157 passengers on board landed safely in Baghdad, the captain once again attacked the co-pilot verbally and physically before being pulled away.
Officials from Iraqi Airways confirmed to The Independent that the airline has launched a formal investigation into the incident and could impose a lifetime flying ban for both pilots if they are deemed guilty.
"The transport ministry has opened an investigation with the two pilots who argued with each other in-flight," an Iraqi Airways spokesperson said to The Independent.
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