Left Coaster:
How you disappoint (once again). Your naiveté regarding Air Law, International Conventions and Treaties is blatantly obvious.
Of course the Sri Lanka CAA are involved if a serious incident occurs on board an aircraft on the ramp at Colombo airport……!!!!!!!!!Derrrr
Did you pass any Air Law exams at all?
I say again:
The Sri Lanka CAA are investigating an incident in which a Bahraini Purser SABOTAGED a Gulf Air flight and delayed its departure for over 2 hours.
The Purser, after being reprimanded by the Captain for disappearing for 45 minutes to have a smoke, then refused to follow the Captain’s instructions. After a telex was sent to the Purser from GF operations in Bahrain to notify the Purser that the aircraft commander was the lawful authority on board the aircraft, the Purser then went out of control preventing passenger boarding and causing distress among the all female cabin crew. Gulf Air ground staff (Sri Lankan citizens) witnessed the incident.
The flight was GF443 from CMB to AUH. The incident occurred in January.
The Sri Lanka CAA has stated that Gulf Air “is not cooperating” with the investigation.
I provided a contact for the Sri Lanka CAA in the post to which you refer. You may contact them for confirmation of the above.
The manner in which Gulf Air handled this matter is really quite astonishing although typical if you examine their 54-year history of internal management conflict and the mind-set of the indigenous male population.
After returning to Abu Dhabi the American expatriate Captain was fired and the Bahraini Purser was promoted! The Captain even had to buy his own ticket home from Abu Dhabi.
This incident certainly is NOT an “internal matter” any more. ICAO is now involved along with numerous international agencies and authorities. Gulf Air code-share partner American Airlines are also “looking” at the incident.
Additionally, the Captain has begun litigation in the USA against Gulf Air for Breach of Contract, compensation and damages.
No doubt the matter will be comprehensively reported in the press when it reaches the courts.
Surprisingly, Gulf Air still thinks it can resume service to New York and other points in the USA. It would seem highly improbable that USA flights would resume given the potential for SABOTAGE as demonstrated by the Purser in this particular incident. If such incidents can happen on the ground, they can certainly happen in the air.
Gulf Air really needs to be more cognizant of the potential for disaster.
Left Coaster:
May I suggest you further study Air Law and perhaps glance at an English dictionary, starting with the word; SABOTAGE.
It may also be prudent for you to review the definition of duties for both the Captain and the Purser as defined in the Gulf Air Operations Manual. I am certain what you find there will help you reach a more sensible conclusion, although the obvious loyalty you have toward Gulf Air is commendable.
Alternatively, you may wish to consider keeping your trap shut for the next twenty years or so, until you have enough experience to make an educated comment.
Anything else?