Flying Lawyer: I too wish that, when aviation matters involving specialist knowledge and expertise are being discussed, those who have neither would just read and learn from the various opinions offered by those who have. It wouldn't then be necessary to wade through the chaff to get to the wheat.
This is what gets me about some of the attitudes in evidence on this thread. I have no problem with those expressing the opinion that we should reserve judgment until all the facts are in, save for the obvious counterpoint that we are after all commenting on the Professional Pilots Rumour Network.
But the idea that the discussion on this thread requires a familiarity with aviation matters involving specialist knowledge and expertise to contribute to the discussion or to figure out what was going on, is just plainly ridiculous. This was a minor spat between two employees, one senior and in a position of authority over the other. Of the type that happens all the time and across all occupations every day of the week. The only material difference being this spat occurred on board an airliner in the flight levels and resulted in a diversion to an alternate airfield rather than one party or the other storming of to the managers office to register a grievance.
Sense of proportion people.