AI flight delayed due to fight between cabin crew members

A Thiruvananthapuram-bound Air India flight from here carrying 158 passengers including some Members of Parliament and bureaucrats onboard was delayed by two hours after a fight broke out between two cabin crew members inside the cabin.
Taking a serious note of the incident, Air India has suspended the crew members, pending enquiry, the airline said.
The incident took place this evening when Air India flight was readying for Kochi for departure. The flight was, however, bound for Thiruvananthapuram.
"We have suspended the two cabin crew members for delaying the flight. We will not tolerate any indiscipline at the airline," Air India Chairman and Managing Director Ashwani Lohani said here tonight.

The airline deeply regrets the inconvenience caused to its passengers, he added.
According to sources, initially it was an argument over some personal issue between a junior cabin crew and the second senior cabin crew, which later turned into a full scale scuffle.

"However, it turned into heated exchange of words, forcing the commander to intervene. But when they refused to relent, the operations in charge decided to offload both of them and deploy new crew in their place, "sources said.
Air India, however, said that there was minor altercation between two cabin crew.
The DGCA granted the mandatory approval for C-2 check

(2,250 days inspection) on B 777 series aircraft fitted with GE 90-100/115 engines, in May 2015.
Subsequently, 'D' check (3,000 days inspection) approval was granted on February 19 this year, Jagannath said.
The MRO carried out first phase check (every 2,000 hours/240 days) of VT-ALN in June 2015. First 'D' Check of VT-ALL completed in April 2016. The first C-2 check of VT-ALT completed in May this year.
The MRO was also in the process of finalising a facility for Airbus aircraft and after an internal audit necessary papers are with the DGCA for approval, he said.
With the approval, the Airbus family aircraft A319, A320 and A321 series fitted with powerful engines, up to 4A check, will be admitted.

Jagannath said the state-of-the-art facility consists two wide body hangars (100m x 100m X 25m each) apron of size 70,000 sqm.
The MRO facility is designed for undertaking maintenance of any type and size of aircraft, including A-380.
Each hangar can accommodate one wide body or three narrow body aircraft at a time.
Air India will manage the MRO as an owner for maintenance of AI fleet and for other airlines.
Jagannath said the hangars are of international standard, fully equipped to fight fire with foam (deluge/sprinkler) and also equipped with mechanised German sliding door.