RAVEENDRAN via Getty Images
An Air India flight from Jaipur to Delhi led to two pilots being grounded on Sunday evening after a brawl allegedly broke out between the Airbus A320's captain and his first officer.
The pair apparently came to blows after the captain asked his co-pilot to record some vital figures before take off.
This involves writing critical facts like number of passengers on board, take off weight and fuel uptake on a small paper card (trim sheet) that is displayed in front of the pilots for the entire duration of the flight. The co-pilot took offence at this and reportedly beat up the captain," The Times of India reports.
Both people involved have been de-rostered pending an investigation, and could face trouble for not reporting the incident sooner. Rather than flagging it with senior staff immediately, the captain continued with the flight and logged details upon landing the plane.
According to a senior Air India official, the same first officer had a history of similar behaviour.
"Three years back, he asked the commander of a flight to come out of the cockpit, remove the stars on his shirt collar (appulates) and then fought with him. A year later, another commander complained about his 'rude and unbecoming' behavior in the cockpit and questioned his state of mind," an Air India source said.
The outburst is being attributed to crew being "overworked" on the government-owned airline with some saying they had been "forced to work overtime" without adequate pay.
A representative of the Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association said: "Putting these highly-stressed and financially over-burdened co-pilots in the same cockpit is a perfect recipe for disaster."
The onboard brawl comes in the midst of a worldwide debate about pilots' mental health, with Germanwings pilot Andreas Lubitz allegedly crashing another Airbus A320 into the French Alps on purpose.
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TransAsia Airways Plane Crash
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Rescuers lift the wreckage of the TransAsia ATR 72-600 oot of the Keelung river at New Taipei City on February 4, 2015. At least 23 people were killed when a passenger plane operated by TransAsia Airways clipped an overpass soon after take-off and plunged into a river in Taiwan, the airline's second crash in seven months. AFP PHOTO / SAM YEH (Photo credit should read SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:SAM YEH via Getty Images)
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Rescuers lift the wreckage of the TransAsia ATR 72-600 out of the Keelung river at New Taipei City on February 4, 2015. At least 23 people were killed when a passenger plane operated by TransAsia Airways clipped an overpass soon after take-off and plunged into a river in Taiwan, the airline's second crash in seven months. AFP PHOTO / SAM YEH (Photo credit should read SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:SAM YEH via Getty Images)
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Rescuers locate pieces of the wreckage of the TransAsia ATR 72-600 in the Keelung river at New Taipei City on February 4, 2015. At least 23 people were killed when a passenger plane operated by TransAsia Airways clipped an overpass soon after take-off and plunged into a river in Taiwan, the airline's second crash in seven months. AFP PHOTO / SAM YEH (Photo credit should read SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:SAM YEH via Getty Images)
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Rescuers check the wreckage of the TransAsia ATR 72-600 on the Keelung river at New Taipei City on February 4, 2015. At least 23 people were killed when a passenger plane operated by TransAsia Airways clipped an overpass soon after take-off and plunged into a river in Taiwan, the airline's second crash in seven months. AFP PHOTO / SAM YEH (Photo credit should read SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:SAM YEH via Getty Images)
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Rescuers search for pieces of the wreckage of the TransAsia ATR 72-600 in the Keelung river at New Taipei City on February 4, 2015. At least 23 people were killed when a passenger plane operated by TransAsia Airways clipped an overpass soon after take-off and plunged into a river in Taiwan, the airline's second crash in seven months. AFP PHOTO / SAM YEH (Photo credit should read SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:SAM YEH via Getty Images)
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Rescuers check the wreckage of the TransAsia ATR 72-600 on the Keelung river at New Taipei City on February 4, 2015. At least 23 people were killed when a passenger plane operated by TransAsia Airways clipped an overpass soon after take-off and plunged into a river in Taiwan, the airline's second crash in seven months. AFP PHOTO / SAM YEH (Photo credit should read SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:SAM YEH via Getty Images)
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Rescuers check the wreckage of the TransAsia ATR 72-600 on the Keelung river at New Taipei City on February 4, 2015. At least 23 people were killed when a passenger plane operated by TransAsia Airways clipped an overpass soon after take-off and plunged into a river in Taiwan, the airline's second crash in seven months. AFP PHOTO / SAM YEH (Photo credit should read SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:SAM YEH via Getty Images)
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TAIWAN, CHINA -FEBRUARY 04: (CHINA MAINLAND OUT)TransAsia Airways GE-235 airline drops into Keelung River and the firefighters are rescuing the passengers on 04th February, 2015 in Keelung, Taiwan, China.(Photo by TPG/Getty Images) (credit:TPG via Getty Images)
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TAIWAN, CHINA -FEBRUARY 04: (CHINA MAINLAND OUT)TransAsia Airways GE-235 airline drops into Keelung River and the firefighters are rescuing the passengers on 04th February, 2015 in Keelung, Taiwan, China.(Photo by TPG/Getty Images) (credit:TPG via Getty Images)
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Rescue personnel in a rubber dinghy lift a passenger (bottom C) from the waters around the wreckage of a TransAsia ATR 72-600 turboprop plane that crash-landed into the Keelung river outside Taiwan's capital Taipei in New Taipei City on February 4, 2015. At least 16 people were killed when TransAsia Aiways Flight GE235 with 58 people on board clipped a road bridge and plunged into the river in Taiwan, in the airline's second crash in just seven months. AFP PHOTO / SAM YEH (Photo credit should read SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:SAM YEH via Getty Images)
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TAIPEI, TAIWAN - FEBRUARY 04: Parts of TransAsia Airways ATR 72-600 turboprop airplane on the ground where they fell when the aircraft crashed into the Keelung River shortly after takeoff from Taipei Songshan airport on February 4, 2015 in Taipei, Taiwan. Over 50 people were onboard the aircraft when it clipped a bridge and crashed into the river. Twelve deaths have currently been reported. (Photo by Ashley Pon/Getty Images) (credit:Ashley Pon via Getty Images)
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Police check a bridge which was damaged when a TransAsia ATR 72-600 turboprop plane clipped it and crashed into the Keelung river outside Taiwan's capital Taipei in New Taipei City on February 4, 2015. At least 16 people were killed when TransAsia Aiways Flight GE235 with 58 people on board clipped the road bridge and plunged into the river in Taiwan, in the airline's second crash in just seven months. AFP PHOTO / SAM YEH (Photo credit should read SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:SAM YEH via Getty Images)
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Rescue personnel search for passengers from the wreckage of a TransAsia ATR 72-600 turboprop plane that crash-landed into the Keelung river outside Taiwan's capital Taipei in New Taipei City on February 4, 2015. At least 16 people were killed when TransAsia Aiways Flight GE235 with 58 people on board clipped a road bridge and plunged into the river in Taiwan, in the airline's second crash in just seven months. AFP PHOTO / SAM YEH (Photo credit should read SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:SAM YEH via Getty Images)
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Emergency personnel work after a commercial plane crashed into a river in Taipei, Taiwan, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015. The Taiwanese commercial flight with 58 people aboard clipped a bridge shortly after takeoff and crashed into a river in the island's capital of Taipei on Wednesday morning. (AP Photo/Wally Santana) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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TAIPEI, TAIWAN - FEBRUARY 04: A rescue crew carries a passenger from a TransAsia Airways ATR 72-600 turboprop airplane that crashed into the Keelung River shortly after takeoff from Taipei Songshan airport on February 4, 2015 in Taipei, Taiwan. Over 50 people were onboard the aircraft when it clipped a bridge and crashed into the river. At least two deaths have been reported. (Photo by Ashley Pon/Getty Images) (credit:Ashley Pon via Getty Images)
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A Taiwanese flight with 58 people aboard clipped a bridge shortly after takeoff and careened into a shallow river Wednesday in the island's capital of Taipei, killing at least eight people, state media said. (credit:TVBS.com)
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A taxi that was hit by the Taiwanese flight with 58 people aboard then crashed into the river (credit:TVBS.com)
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TAIPEI, TAIWAN - FEBRUARY 04: Rescue teams work to free people from a TransAsia Airways ATR 72-600 turboprop airplane that crashed into the Keelung River shortly after takeoff from Taipei Songshan airport on February 4, 2015 in Taipei, Taiwan. Over 50 people were onboard the aircraft when it clipped a bridge and crashed into the river. Twelve deaths have currently been reported. (Photo by Ashley Pon/Getty Images) (credit:Ashley Pon via Getty Images)
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Emergency personnel approach a commercial plane after it crashed in Taipei, Taiwan, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015. The Taiwanese commercial flight with 58 people aboard clipped a bridge shortly after takeoff and crashed into a river in the island's capital of Taipei on Wednesday morning. (AP Photo) TAIWAN OUT (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Emergency personnel work on top of a commercial plane after it crashed in Taipei, Taiwan, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015. The Taiwanese commercial flight with 58 people aboard clipped a bridge shortly after takeoff and crashed into a river in the island's capital of Taipei on Wednesday morning. (AP Photo) TAIWAN OUT (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Emergency personnel try to extract passengers from a commercial plane after it crashed in Taipei, Taiwan, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015. A Taiwanese flight with 58 people aboard went sideways, clipped an elevated roadway and careened into a river Wednesday shortly after takeoff from the island's capital of Taipei. (AP Photo/Wally Santana) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Rescue personnel work to free passengers from a TransAsia ATR 72-600 turboprop plane that crash-landed into a river outside Taiwan's capital Taipei on Feb. 4, 2015. (credit:SAM YEH via Getty Images)
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The Taiwanese commercial flight with 58 people aboard clipped a bridge shortly after takeoff and crashed into a river in the island's capital of Taipei on Wednesday morning. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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At least 10 people were rescued and dozens more trapped inside, according to television reports. (credit:SAM YEH via Getty Images)
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Rescue personnel put an injured passenger from a TransAsia ATR 72-600 turboprop plane that crash-landed into a river outside Taipei. (credit:SAM YEH via Getty Images)
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Rescue personnel, military and members of the media line up along the shore as rescue operations continue to free passengers from a TransAsia ATR 72-600 turboprop plane that crash-landed into a river outside Taiwan's capital. (credit:SAM YEH via Getty Images)
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Stretchers wait on the shoreline of the Keelung River as emergency personnel try to extract passengers from a Taiwanese commercial plane after it crashed in Taipei, Taiwan, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015. The ATR-72-600 prop-jet aircraft with 58 people aboard went sideways, clipped an elevated roadway and careened into the river Wednesday shortly after takeoff from the island's capital of Taipei, killing more than 10 people, local media and officials said. (AP Photo/Wally Santana) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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TAIPEI, TAIWAN - FEBRUARY 04: A rescue crew carries a window from a TransAsia Airways ATR 72-600 turboprop airplane that crashed into the Keelung River shortly after takeoff from Taipei Songshan airport on February 4, 2015 in Taipei, Taiwan. Over 50 people were onboard the aircraft when it clipped a bridge and crashed into the river. Twelve deaths have currently been reported. (Photo by Ashley Pon/Getty Images) (credit:Ashley Pon via Getty Images)
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An injured passenger (C) is stretchered by emergency personnel up the river bank after a TransAsia ATR 72-600 turboprop plane crash-landed into the Keelung river outside Taiwan's capital Taipei in New Taipei City on February 4, 2015. The low-flying passenger plane, TransAsia Flight GE235 with 58 people on board, clipped a road bridge and plunged into the river outside Taiwan's capital with at least 11 feared dead and many trapped inside. AFP PHOTO / SAM YEH (Photo credit should read SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:SAM YEH via Getty Images)
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An injured passenger (L) is escorted by emergency personnel up the river bank after a TransAsia ATR 72-600 turboprop plane crash-landed into the Keelung river outside Taiwan's capital Taipei in New Taipei City on February 4, 2015. The low-flying passenger plane, TransAsia Flight GE235 with 58 people on board, clipped a road bridge and plunged into the river outside Taiwan's capital with at least nine feared dead and many trapped inside. AFP PHOTO / SAM YEH (Photo credit should read SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:SAM YEH via Getty Images)
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An injured passenger (C) is helped onto land by emergency personnel along the river bank after a TransAsia ATR 72-600 turboprop plane crash-landed into the Keelung river outside Taiwan's capital Taipei in New Taipei City on February 4, 2015. The low-flying passenger plane, TransAsia Flight GE235 with 58 people on board, clipped a road bridge and plunged into the river outside Taiwan's capital with at least nine feared dead and many trapped inside. AFP PHOTO / SAM YEH (Photo credit should read SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:SAM YEH via Getty Images)
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TAIPEI, TAIWAN - FEBRUARY 04: Rescue teams work to free people from a TransAsia Airways ATR 72-600 turboprop airplane that crashed into the Keelung River shortly after takeoff from Taipei Songshan airport on February 4, 2015 in Taipei, Taiwan. Over 50 people were onboard the aircraft when it clipped a bridge and crashed into the river. At least two deaths have been reported. (Photo by Ashley Pon/Getty Images) (credit:Ashley Pon via Getty Images)
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Rescue personnel, military and members of the media line up along the shore as rescue operations continue to free passengers from a TransAsia ATR 72-600 turboprop plane (not pictured) that crash-landed into a river (at L) outside Taiwan's capital Taipei in New Taipei City on February 4, 2015. The low-flying passenger plane, TransAsia Flight GE235 with 58 people on board, clipped a road bridge and plunged into the river outside Taiwan's capital with at least three feared dead and dozens trapped inside. AFP PHOTO / SAM YEH (Photo credit should read SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:SAM YEH via Getty Images)
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Rescue personnel work to free passengers from a TransAsia ATR 72-600 turboprop plane that crash-landed into a river outside Taiwan's capital Taipei in New Taipei City on February 4, 2015. The passenger plane with 58 people on board was on a domestic flight when it plunged into the river, with at least 10 people rescued and dozens trapped inside, according to television reports. AFP PHOTO / SAM YEH (Photo credit should read SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:SAM YEH via Getty Images)
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Rescue personnel put an injured passenger from a TransAsia ATR 72-600 turboprop plane that crash-landed into a river outside Taiwan's capital Taipei into an ambulance in New Taipei City on February 4, 2015. The passenger plane with 58 people on board was on a domestic flight when it plunged into the river, with at least 10 people rescued and dozens trapped inside, according to television reports. AFP PHOTO / SAM YEH (Photo credit should read SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:SAM YEH via Getty Images)
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TAIWAN, CHINA -FEBRUARY 04: (CHINA MAINLAND OUT)TransAsia Airways GE-235 airline drops into Keelung River and the firefighters are rescuing the passengers on 04th February, 2015 in Keelung, Taiwan, China.(Photo by TPG/Getty Images) (credit:TPG via Getty Images)
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TAIWAN, CHINA -FEBRUARY 04: (CHINA MAINLAND OUT)TransAsia Airways GE-235 airline drops into Keelung River and the firefighters are rescuing the passengers on 04th February, 2015 in Keelung, Taiwan, China.(Photo by TPG/Getty Images) (credit:TPG via Getty Images)
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TAIPEI, TAIWAN - FEBRUARY 04: Rescue team carrry a aircraft part from a TransAsia Airways ATR 72-600 turboprop airplane that crashed into the Keelung River shortly after takeoff from Taipei Songshan airport on February 4, 2015 in Taipei, Taiwan. Over 50 people were onboard the aircraft when it clipped a bridge and crashed into the river. Twelve deaths have currently been reported. (Photo by Ashley Pon/Getty Images) (credit:Ashley Pon via Getty Images)
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TAIPEI, TAIWAN - FEBRUARY 04: Rescue team carrry a window from a TransAsia Airways ATR 72-600 turboprop airplane that crashed into the Keelung River shortly after takeoff from Taipei Songshan airport on February 4, 2015 in Taipei, Taiwan. Over 50 people were onboard the aircraft when it clipped a bridge and crashed into the river. Twelve deaths have currently been reported. (Photo by Ashley Pon/Getty Images) (credit:Ashley Pon via Getty Images)
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TAIPEI, TAIWAN - FEBRUARY 04: Rescue teams work to free people from a TransAsia Airways ATR 72-600 turboprop airplane that crashed into the Keelung River shortly after takeoff from Taipei Songshan airport on February 4, 2015 in Taipei, Taiwan. Over 50 people were onboard the aircraft when it clipped a bridge and crashed into the river. Twelve deaths have currently been reported. (Photo by Ashley Pon/Getty Images) (credit:Ashley Pon via Getty Images)