Pilot locked co-pilot out of cockpit during flight following 'tension' between them

A pilot locked his co-pilot out of the cockpit during a flight after there was "some tension" between the pair.

They were flying from Perth to Auckland according to a report on the incident that described there as being "some tension" between them.

Friction started between them when the co-pilot took a long time to take part in a drug and alcohol test, delaying the flight for 13 minutes.

Once the plane was airborn, the co-pilot went for a comfort break and a coffee with a member of the cabin crew.

When he went back to the cockpit, however, he could not get in through the door so asked the cabin crew to call him on the internal phones.

Errol Burtenshaw, Air New Zealand's manager of operational integrity and safety, told Stuff.co.nz: "The first officer became concerned that the captain did not answer the calls and used an alternative entry method to gain access.

"Naturally, cabin crew operating the flight were concerned about the inability to contact the captain and became quite anxious."

A report has now been submitted to New Zealand's Civil Aviation Authority and the captain and first officer were both stood down for a short time.

Mr Burtenshaw added that the captain said he was approaching a navigational waypoint that needed his concentration and he thought the person calling him was a crew member, not his co-pilot.

He concluded: "Safety and security are paramount and non-negotiable for Air New Zealand. This issue on NZ176 is unfortunate and both pilots have learned a valuable lesson around the need to communicate better with peers."

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/pilot-locked-co-pilot-out-cockpit-3821595#ixzz36j2fCszi


That would make you feel safe!

Perhaps we should invite them to newsfix?  ://?roflmao?/: 

eddie wrote:Perhaps we should invite them to newsfix?  ://?roflmao?/: 

They had better Fasten your seat belts then because they'll be in for a rough ride.