An Air New Zealand flight to Auckland was delayed after two pilots got into a fight during a layover in San Francisco, according to aviation portal Simple Flying.
The conflict between the two crew members took place on September 7 while they were resting in the California city, although details of the disruption only emerged recently.
The dispute left the airline without an immediate replacement pilot on site, forcing the long-haul departure to New Zealand to be postponed by 14 hours.
Air New Zealand initially told passengers that the departure was delayed because a crew member had fallen ill. The airline later acknowledged that a conflict between its employees had caused the disruption.
Investigation into pilot altercation
An internal investigation is currently underway to examine the circumstances of the fight and determine what occurred between the crew members during their layover.
Air New Zealand is the national airline of New Zealand, headquartered in Auckland. The carrier operates an extensive network of domestic and international flights, including direct transpacific routes that connect New Zealand with major transit hubs on the West Coast of the United States.
San Francisco International Airport serves as a key gateway for international travel between North America and Australasia. Simple Flying is an industry news website that covers commercial aviation, airline operations, and safety reports worldwide.
Under international aviation safety regulations, commercial passenger flights cannot take off without a full complement of certified pilots on the flight deck. Long-distance transpacific journeys require strict compliance with crew rest rules and flight safety standards.
When a pilot becomes unavailable at an overseas airport, airlines must arrange a qualified replacement before the aircraft can legally depart. Securing standby crew in a foreign city can lead to extended delays if reserve pilots are not immediately present.
The airline has not released further details regarding potential disciplinary action while its internal investigation into the staff conflict remains ongoing.
