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EVA Air has suspended a captain and launched an internal investigation after an alleged assault on a first officer during taxi at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The incident involved a dispute over taxi speed and has prompted regulatory scrutiny from Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Administration.
According to reports, the confrontation occurred after the Boeing 777-300ER’s Malaysian first officer warned the Taiwanese captain multiple times that the aircraft appeared to be taxiing above a 30-knot speed limit. When the captain did not slow down, the first officer reportedly applied manual braking in accordance with operating procedures. The captain allegedly responded by punching the first officer at least four times. This left swelling and bruising on the back of the officer’s hand.
A whistleblower criticized the airline for not immediately activating its emergency response protocols and for allowing a pilot described as “emotionally unstable” to continue the flight (arguing that the situation could have jeopardized passenger safety). The report did not specify the exact date of the event but stated that it occurred recently on a flight from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE).
In response, EVA Air confirmed that it opened an investigation upon learning of the incident and has removed the captain from flight duties pending review. The airline said data from the cockpit’s quick access recorder showed the aircraft was taxiing within regulatory speed limits. The airline cautioned the public against spreading misinformation before the investigation concludes. Once completed, the case will be sent to the carrier’s disciplinary review board.
EVA Air shared the following with Lai Media:
The company initiated an investigation immediately after the incident and is currently fully clarifying the actual taxiing situation, the cause of the conflict, and related facts. EVA Air has always attached great importance to flight safety, professional ethics, and the working environment for its employees. The company will handle any matter that may affect flight safety or violate workplace order prudently in accordance with relevant regulations and company rules, with ensuring flight safety being the top priority.”
Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Administration has launched a parallel inquiry and indicated that legal penalties may be imposed if crew actions are found to have affected flight safety. Physical altercations on the flight deck are exceedingly rare, but aviation safety experts noted that breakdowns in cockpit communication and authority dynamics have historically contributed to serious incidents, underscoring the importance of robust crew resource management procedures.
Anthony’s Take: It’s not uncommon to see passengers arguing in airports and on planes. Pilots fighting (especially physically) in the cockpit is rare and hopefully this captain gets some anger management classes or something if this report is found to be true.
(Featured Image Credit: EVA Air.)
(H/T: One Mile at a Time.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
