In-flight fist fight: Airplane grounded following mid-air cabin crew brawl
A Delta Airlines flight was forced to make an unscheduled landing after two female flight attendants had a punch-up 37,000 feet in the air.
Two staff members aboard flight 2598 traveling from Los Angeles to Minneapolis last week had disagreements over "work issues," eventually leading to the two having a fist fight in the cabin.
A third staff member tried to break it up, but ended up getting punched herself, at which point she informed the captain of what was happening.
Two Delta attendants fist fight in air. Note to 3rd attendant: Don't try to break up 2 women fighting. Men? Maybe. Women? NEVER. #DeltaMMA
— Shannon (@ninjacarhorn) January 30, 2016
The captain told passengers he was diverting the plane to Salt Lake City as he "wanted to hear from his flight attendants," the Aviation Herald reported.
Passengers were forced to sit on board the plane for 80 minutes before continuing their flight once again – without the quarrelling staff members.
Delta just upped the ante on In-Flight entertainment;fights between attendants! Wow ladies;seriously. Win a fight and loose your job. #Delta
— Malik Sultan (@TrueDJWhiz) January 31, 2016
"Some of our team members did not display their best behavior," airline bosses wrote in a letter of apology sent to all passengers after the flight.
"We expect our flight crew to be nothing but courteous and professional at all times and what you experienced was far from that."
Delta Flight Attendants Get in Fist Fight, Plane Lands.
Seriously? That's hot.
Where's the videos?
Bueller? Bueller? Bueller? Anyone?
— Jones (@Jones4410) January 30, 2016
It’s not the first time airline staff have ended up having an in-flight fight.
In September 2012, two flight attendants with United Airlines ended up arguing in front of passengers over a shared jump seat. Only thirty minutes into the journey, the captain turned the plane around, and the flight attendants were removed before the plane set off once again, Flyers Pulse reported. reported.
Two replacement flight attendants had to be found for an American Airlines flight the same month, after the two rostered staff members were kicked off the flight for having "an altercation" over a mobile phone.