World

Co-Pilot’s Panic During Pilot Potty Break Sends Plane Into a Nosedive

An official investigation into a May airplane incident in India reveals just how close a co-pilot came to killing 113 passengers aboard a commuter jet. And it all started with a bathroom break.

From Australian News:

An Indian co-pilot sent an international passenger jet into a terrifying nosedive when he adjusted his seat and accidentally pushed the control column forward, an official report reveals.

When the captain, 39, got back into the cockpit, he shouted, “What are you doing?” as cabin crew ordered the 113 terrified passengers to fasten their seatbelts.

The 25-year-old co-pilot told the inquiry he had “got in a panic situation, couldn’t control the aircraft or … open the cockpit door and answer the cabin call.”

The captain only saved the Boeing 737 aircraft after using an emergency code to get through the cockpit door and take the controls back from the co-pilot, the report by India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said.

The clumsy officer then panicked and was unable to let the captain, who had gone on a toilet break, back into the cockpit as the plane plunged 2000 metres.

The report said there was “complete commotion” in the cabin and that passengers were “very much scared and were shouting loudly” as the plane dived steeply and boxes and liquor bottles fell into the aisle.

The Air India Express flight was flying at 37,000 feet from Dubai to Pune airport, in western India, on May 26 when the near-disaster occurred. No one was injured.

According to the report, the nosedive was “due to the co-pilot adjusting his seat forward and inadvertently pressing the control column forward.”

The plane fell 610m before the captain got back into the cockpit – and another 1520mt as he struggled with the panicking co-pilot.

According to the report, the pilot tried to cover up the incident by telling passengers the plane had hit an air pocket.

Comments (84)

1 2
  • RightPolitically
    Posted on November 29, 2010 at 7:23pm

    Now that we know everybody was okay after the incident, let’s have a little fun with this. There is a few truly great sayings in aviation. One of them goes like this: There we were, fat, dumb and happy at thirty-thousand feet, then all hell broke loose. Another goes something like this: Flying is marked by hours and hours of tedium and boredom interspersed with moments of SHEAR TERROR! MORAL OF THE STORY: Keep your damn hands OFF THE SEAT ADJUSTMENT SWITCH when the Captain is in the CAN!

    Report Post » RightPolitically  
  • WeTheHomers
    Posted on November 29, 2010 at 7:22pm

    Thank you for flying Alla Akbar airlines! This really is your FINAL destination!

    Maybe India should outsource its pilots to say…USA? Then their customers can empathize with us when we call Tech Support for computer help.

    Report Post »  
  • Its Gonna Getcha
    Posted on November 29, 2010 at 6:47pm

    Thank God for these beautiful moments of protection.

    Report Post » Its Gonna Getcha  
  • cptn747
    Posted on November 29, 2010 at 6:43pm

    I’m a former Air India 737 captain, now flying a 747, (fortunately NOT for Air India). But let me tell you about my experience at Air India & something about the average Air India F/O, (First Officer). They are kids, (all Indian Nationals), just out of college, with the ink barely dry on their commercial pilots license, & minimally competent to fly even a Cessna 172. Many get their jobs through political connections rather than ability. A 737 as WAY Beyond their capabilities; which is why I was told in my initial hire brief as a captain never to let an F/O make take offs or landings. All they may do is operate the radio, navigation receiver, gear & flaps, & read check lists. Beyond that they’re told to touch nothing unless instructed by the captain. Note: I’m not Indian. I’m a US citizen who was captain qualified in the 737 when hired by Air India. However, I once chose to disregard the briefing I received & allow an F/O who showed particular promise to attempt a landing under my close supervision. My hands were on the controls all the time. It became obvious when we were only half a mile from touch down, but still descending slowly out of 800 ft, (much too high to land safely), that had this F/O continued the approach, all that would be left of the aircraft would have been a large smoking hole in the ground. The experience cost me an embarrassing “Go Around”, & Air India tens of thousands of Rupees in fuel. Conversely, First Officers on US carriers, must pass periodic flight checks as rigorous as those of captains in the equipment they fly, and, if flying international, must be “Type Rated”, (Captain Qualified), in the aircraft. Remember this next time you consider flying an Indian air carrier.

    Report Post »  
    • mrclean
      Posted on November 29, 2010 at 8:32pm

      Thank you Captain for your story. Enjoyed it very much. It’s good to know that qualifications for captaiins are set high in the US.

      Report Post » mrclean  
  • ChiefGeorge
    Posted on November 29, 2010 at 5:53pm

    Very easy situation actually to get out of. First of all don’t panic, realize that the plane has nosed over and still has the same power setting on the engines. In this flight condition you are only going to pick up speed thus making it even harder to level out. While in the nose over condition he should have casually reached over to the power levers and reduced power (slowing the aircraft) then easy back on the yoke to level her out. Once leveled out and almost at the same time put back the throttles to keep airspeed at cruise. I am not a real pilot but an RC pilot. Even I know this.

    Report Post » ChiefGeorge  
  • cletus1954
    Posted on November 29, 2010 at 5:43pm

    I thought you had to know how to fly BEFORE you became a Co-Pilot.

    Report Post » cletus1954  
  • LoisLane1951
    Posted on November 29, 2010 at 5:41pm

    Co-pilot’s name Leslie Neilson by any chance?

    Report Post » LoisLane1951  
    • Smoovious
      Posted on November 29, 2010 at 6:41pm

      he died today, btw… 84yrs of age…

      complications of pneumonia…

      Report Post » Smoovious  
  • Midwest Belle
    Posted on November 29, 2010 at 5:21pm

    How did a 25 year old (with obviously little experience) end up being a co-plot? *shaking head*

    Report Post » Midwest Blonde  
    • squeaker
      Posted on November 29, 2010 at 5:46pm

      Midwest Belle – You would be surprised at the age of the average Co-Pilot

      Report Post »  
    • Midwest Belle
      Posted on November 29, 2010 at 5:56pm

      Squeaker
      I’m surprised that a co-pilot has so little experience. I guess I was wrong to think that in order to be a commercial pilot, you had to have xxx of hours to fly. I don”t think a 25 yr old has enough time between the ages of 21 and 25 to fly that many hours, non-commercially.

      Has the requirements for previous hours flown been eased?

      Report Post » Midwest Blonde  
    • cptn747
      Posted on November 29, 2010 at 6:58pm

      comments in my post may answer your question re how did F/O get the job.

      Report Post »  
  • heavyduty
    Posted on November 29, 2010 at 5:01pm

    The story should have included that the co-pilot had to be rushed to the hospital to get the seat cushion removed from his butt so he could take a crap. Where did this guy get his pilots license? A crackerjack box!!! You have to wonder what that pilot was thinking sitting on the crapper. But when you gotta go, you just gotta go.

    Report Post »  
  • emmanuel Goldstein
    Posted on November 29, 2010 at 4:45pm

    Another good reason to stay home and not travel at all.

    Report Post » emmanuel Goldstein  
  • TXPilot
    Posted on November 29, 2010 at 4:37pm

    As a long-time professional pilot, this article just shows what the oldsters in this industry like me, have known for many years. The young and upcoming pilots these days are great at pushing buttons, programming computers and looking good in the uniform, but sadly, the days when pilots were rigidly trained and experienced in “stick and rudder flying” …..are over. Back when I was a young pilot, I was expected to pay my dues, building my flight hours in low-level jobs such as flying freight for years, til I had accumulated the hours of required experience. Nowadays, airlines prefer to hire inexperienced and “low paid” pilots to fly their planes, rather than have to pony up the higher pay for someone that actually knows what they are doing. But, I guess the airlines have to cut corners wherever possible, considering that with all the horribly burdensome costs associated with complying with a whole myriad of government regulation and mandates, profit margins are miniscule at best. Theres an old saying in aviation that sums it up…..”How do you make a small fortune in aviation?…start with a large one.”

    Most people think pilots are highly paid, but they would be wrong. Many pilots out there live at or below the poverty line and stay in the industry for their love of flying. I know of pilots that literally live in their cars between flights, because they are not paid a living wage and can’t even afford basic housing. Thus, alot of the older pilots with families are gone from the industry and leave in their wake all the young guys/gals who are willing to suffer for their profession, because they have not had their enthusiasm broken yet, by years of low pay, long hours, shabby treatment and frequent layoffs.

    Think about all this the next time you board a commercial flight, and consider that one or both of the pilots who are flying you around may literally be paid less than alot of Walmart employees, and may have slept on a couch in a crew lounge somewhere before he showed up for your flight.

    Ok..ok….txpilot steps off his soapbox and thanks everyone for listening to his rant.

    Report Post » TXPilot  
    • ronbgone
      Posted on November 29, 2010 at 5:54pm

      The only hope we have are the military men and women this is what keeps us (U.S.A.) great they give America four to six years they learn a trade they see what the cost of war, freedom and what the cost is to preseve a constitution. Most of them come out with an understanding of hope, after seeing how many around the world live you know what we have. and let me tell you there are a lot of fine pilots coming out of are military olng with many other trades that well help now as civilians.

      Report Post »  
    • mdb749
      Posted on November 29, 2010 at 6:01pm

      Gosh, I would have hoped that the guy flying my plane had some, say – Air Force or Marine flying experience and a living wage before becoming a commercial pilot! Argggg……my decision to never fly again continues to give me time to pause and enjoy the scenery.

      Report Post » mdb749  
    • mrclean
      Posted on November 29, 2010 at 8:28pm

      Thnks TX for sharing your story

      Report Post » mrclean  
    • DebiAnn
      Posted on November 29, 2010 at 11:09pm

      That’s why I always look at the pilots when I board the plane. The whiter the hair, the better I feel!

      Report Post » DebiAnn  
    • Aviatrix
      Posted on November 30, 2010 at 11:09am

      Preach on txpilot. :)

      @Debiann – a few flights with that co-pilot would turn my hair white….

      Report Post » Aviatrix  
  • WeveAlreadyWon
    Posted on November 29, 2010 at 4:32pm

    Kind of like the Doctors that train in India and Pakistan and come here as a Licensed MD in the US after taking a year of college. Overseas Degree should not qulify you for any Professional degree here.

    Report Post »  
  • BRAVEHEART
    Posted on November 29, 2010 at 4:27pm

    My flight instructor demanded that seat adjustments be made before engine start for the reasons demonstrsted by this pilot. I hope he didn’t drop his wackie cigarette or pill box and move the seat to find it.

    Report Post »  
  • sjohn70037
    Posted on November 29, 2010 at 4:19pm

    Hey, you paid for an airplane ride, right?

    Report Post » sjohn70037  
  • MeteoricLimbo
    Posted on November 29, 2010 at 4:06pm

    Poor fellow was in a hurry to leak his wiki.

    Report Post » MeteoricLimbo  
  • mistercondo
    Posted on November 29, 2010 at 3:52pm

    So TSA’s are now piloting the planes?

    Report Post » mistercondo  
  • libertyisnotfree
    Posted on November 29, 2010 at 3:52pm

    I think they better check into this guys training. Sounds liek he got through pilot school like Ed Kenedy got his lawyer’s degree…took the test several times until he finally got a high enough score to pass. You don’t get several chances when flying an aircraft. Thank God the pilot was competent.

    Report Post »  
  • Tallbriar
    Posted on November 29, 2010 at 3:45pm

    The first “death of a thousand cuts” or just an idiot flight-school drop-out?

    Report Post »  
    • squeaker
      Posted on November 29, 2010 at 4:00pm

      Nope…. Me thinks he was just the “Chevy Chase” of Pilots…:)

      Report Post »  
  • squeaker
    Posted on November 29, 2010 at 3:44pm

    Sounds like a fun flight to me

    Report Post »  
    • knotaclu
      Posted on November 29, 2010 at 3:53pm

      like a roller coaster, hands up going down the hill…..

      Report Post »  
    • squeaker
      Posted on November 29, 2010 at 3:58pm

      WhaaaaaaaaaaHooooooooooooooooooooo

      Report Post »  
  • Shinyhappymommy
    Posted on November 29, 2010 at 3:38pm

    Typo in the title of this article. C’mon proofreaders.

    Report Post »  
  • eliq91
    Posted on November 29, 2010 at 3:25pm

    Brilliant

    Report Post »  
  • the Life Of Reilly
    Posted on November 29, 2010 at 3:25pm

    Glad everyone is safe. Obama just offered this co-pilot the FAA Czar job . I could see Babu , waving his finger, saying No,No, No,No

    Report Post » M31Sailor  
  • J.C. McGlynn
    Posted on November 29, 2010 at 3:24pm

    The quickest cure for the problem would a pilot seat with a built in potty. For pilots on the go who need “to go.”

    Report Post » J.C. McGlynn  
    • ARIZONA VETERAN
      Posted on November 29, 2010 at 3:29pm

      Astro diapers!!

      Report Post » ARIZONA VETERAN  
    • snowleopard3200 {mix art}
      Posted on November 29, 2010 at 3:38pm

      In addition to that have an ejection seat operated by the piolet; first bit of problems from the copiolet he goes to ‘space and beyond’…not necessarily with a parachute attached either.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • Airdoc
      Posted on November 29, 2010 at 4:58pm

      That “Depends”

      Report Post »  
    • TreeTrimmerJim
      Posted on November 29, 2010 at 10:41pm

      Military planes when I was in the service had relief tubes. Who knows what is available today.

      Report Post » TreeTrimmerJim  
    • westy98530
      Posted on November 30, 2010 at 1:20am

      My MH-60 has relief tubes for the pilots and aircrew, kept right under the seats. Not the easiest thing in the world to use, but it generally works. That being said, I always somehow manage to, um, “encounter an air pocket” myself every time I’m flying and my copilot is trying to use his relief tube.

      Report Post »  
  • Strife
    Posted on November 29, 2010 at 3:22pm

    Umm… Seems kind of hard to believe to me. I would fire the co-pilot and have him investigated. :)

    Report Post » Strife  
    • RobertCA
      Posted on November 29, 2010 at 3:47pm

      it depends on how they get their license & you’re right that idiot should never be in an airplane again .

      Report Post » Robert-CA  
    • KenInIL
      Posted on November 29, 2010 at 4:33pm

      In India, the co-pilot’s parents probably bought it for him, then used influence to get him a sweet job.

      Report Post »  
    • walkwithme1966
      Posted on November 30, 2010 at 12:49am

      Well that is one airliner I am not ever flying – actually the article was rather funny!! http://maboulette.wordpress.com

      Report Post » walkwithme1966  
  • APatriotFirst
    Posted on November 29, 2010 at 3:20pm

    Makes me glad I don’t fly. If I was supposed to fly, I would have been born with wings.

    Report Post »  
    • Fletch
      Posted on November 29, 2010 at 3:32pm

      by any chance was the co-pilot’s name Obama?

      Fletch  
    • APatriotFirst
      Posted on November 29, 2010 at 3:37pm

      I just have to do it, so 13gen doesn’t do it. Gotta gotta gotta do it……………………..

      Firsties!

      LOL LOL

      Report Post »  
    • paleoconservatarian
      Posted on November 29, 2010 at 3:38pm

      Man were born with something better. A brain so as to create his own wings.

      Unfortunate that now and again one must endure a co-pilot who doesn’t know what to do with it.

      Report Post » paleoconservatarian  
    • @leftfighter
      Posted on November 29, 2010 at 4:22pm

      …and this, ladies and gents, is why we shouldn’t be outsourcing pilot jobs to India…

      Report Post » @leftfighter  
    • Dustyluv
      Posted on November 29, 2010 at 4:32pm

      As punisment did he have to clean up the brown trail from the restroom to the cockpit?

      Report Post »  
    • canuck44
      Posted on November 29, 2010 at 5:52pm

      …name was more likely Mohamed and he was yelling Allah Akbar.

      If you are only 25 and a copilot on a 73 you are there because you are experienced or you had some kind of political connection to get the job…most likely the latter in India.

      Report Post »  
    • TENJAX
      Posted on November 29, 2010 at 6:39pm

      With the constant downward pressure on the pilots in this country, this experience of First Officer will be in a US flight deck near you! ATP mins for all!

      Report Post »  
    • grandmaof5
      Posted on November 29, 2010 at 6:46pm

      APATRIOTFIRST, we’re so easily amused………

      Report Post »  
    • DaytonConserve
      Posted on November 29, 2010 at 7:05pm

      Must be the same flight training some received here in the US prior to 9/11. Training to land not a requirement.

      Report Post »  
    • mizflame98
      Posted on November 29, 2010 at 8:05pm

      And to think, you can also get your junk touched before going on a flight like that. But it’s all worth it. /s

      Report Post » mizflame98  
    • silentwatcher
      Posted on November 29, 2010 at 8:07pm

      sounds like somebody needs to be suspended until they go back to flight school and learn how to handle EMERGENCY situations. Kudos to the pilot.

      Report Post »  
    • ConsChristian
      Posted on November 29, 2010 at 8:59pm

      Sounds like a little Jihad to me. Let me guess the co-pilot was Muslim and they left out that detail.

      Report Post »  
    • countrysideflair
      Posted on November 29, 2010 at 9:25pm

      Isn‘t half of India’s population… Muslim? Just a thought.

      Report Post » countrysideflair  
    • loriann12
      Posted on November 30, 2010 at 6:45am

      I agree with canuk44…first thing that entered my mind was maybe he was a terrorist trying to crash the plane, and the captain foiled the attempt. They’re just keeping it quiet. Couldn’t let him in the cabin? Panicked? Did a nose dive because he was adjusting his seat? That’s either deliberate or total incompetence.

      Report Post »  
    • john1417
      Posted on November 30, 2010 at 9:03am

      I suppose you dont drive then. No wheels right?

      Report Post »  
    • proudinfidel54
      Posted on November 30, 2010 at 9:21am

      Yep I will play in to the Muslem scenario, the guy wouldn’t let the pilot back in the cockpit then there was a struggle afterward. I mean all the guy had to do was let go of the yoke…notice the the distance the plane fell before the pilot regained access to the cockpit compared to the distance the plane fell after he was in there, not to mention the noted confusion going on with the crew in the cockpit. Something is rotten in India.

      Report Post » proudinfidel54  
    • Jim in Houston
      Posted on November 30, 2010 at 10:09am

      FETCH: It wasn’t Obama. He wouldn’t have been that competent.

      Report Post »  
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