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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
World
Matt Gibson & Sophie Collins

Air France pilots break out in fight in cockpit minutes after take off

Two Air France pilots broke out in a physical brawl a short time after take-off, according to an airline official.

Both men were reportedly suspended from duty after the altercation which has resulted in calls for more robust safety protocols on flights.

The incident was first reported in Switzerland's Tribune de Geneve, where it was suggested that one had hit the other before the pilot and co-pilot grabbed each other by their collars.

READ MORE: Cabin crew member issues grim warning to people who fall asleep on planes

The onboard fight occurred on a flight from Geneva to Paris and had to be broken up by cabin crew, according to the report.

Following the violent outburst, a member of the crew spent the remainder of the flight in the cockpit with the two pilots.

An official from the airline said it upholds its commitment to safety even after a number of recent incidents attracted the attention of regulators and described this most recent incident as "totally inappropriate behaviour.”

Details of the fracas came to light days after France's air investigation agency, BEA, issued a report saying that safety rules were occasionally ignored by some Air France pilots.

Air France said it has since launched a safety audit following the report's publication. It has vowed to follow the BEA's recommendations, which include enabling pilots to study their flights afterward and making training manuals stricter about following procedures.

The airline added that it flied thousands of flights every day and the report cites just four safety incidents. Air France pilot's unions have insisted that security is paramount to all pilots and defended pilot actions during emergency situations.

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