Sydney Morning Herald 30/03
This is QF180 to Melbourne - your crew is fighting outside
By Alexandra Smith, Transport Reporter
March 30, 2005
Stormy weather, rowdy passengers and security threats, sure, but squabbling flight crew? That was the reason behind the cancellation of a Qantas flight from Tokyo to Melbourne on Good Friday.
Qantas has launched an investigation into a fight involving several of the aircraft's flight crew that ended up delaying hundreds of passengers and left a crew member in hospital.
The scuffle started out as a heated argument in a Tokyo night spot, about 15 hours before the long-haul crew was due to start work on the flight to Melbourne. As it intensified at least one punch was thrown, with one crew member needing treatment in hospital, it is understood.
A spokesman for Qantas, Michael Sharp, confirmed an "incident" had happened in Japan over the Easter weekend and said the airline had immediately launched an investigation.
Mr Sharp said Qantas had to cancel the flight because a member of the flight crew had been stood down - with full pay. However, all passengers at Tokyo Narita were found seats on another flight via Sydney about an hour and a half later, he said.
"Qantas is interviewing all those involved as part of an ongoing investigation," he said. Mr Sharp could not comment on the cause of the fight, but said the flight, QF180, was abandoned.
Michael Mijatov, head of the international division of the Flight Attendants Association of Australia, said he had spoken to the two staff members at the centre of the fight.
Mr Mijatov would not reveal any more details, but said he hoped Qantas would fully investigate the incident.