Taiwanese airline EVA Air has suspended a pilot after he allegedly punched a first officer multiple times while taxiing a plane for takeoff at Los Angeles International Airport.
According to a Jan. 1 report by Taiwan’s The Reporter, the pilot, surnamed Wen, was taxiing the aircraft at a speed reportedly exceeding the 30-knot (55.6 kph) limit. The first officer, a Malaysian, attempted several times to warn Wen, but allegedly received no response and manually applied the brakes in line with standard operating procedures.
The report claims Wen then lost his temper and struck the first officer at least four times. The whistleblower criticized EVA Air for not taking immediate action, suggesting the pilot’s emotional state could have endangered passengers.
In response, EVA Air issued a statement on Jan. 3 confirming that Wen has been suspended pending an internal investigation. The airline said flight data from the quick access recorder (QAR) indicates the plane was not speeding and that all operations complied with regulations. QAR records have been submitted to the relevant authorities.
EVA Air added that it promptly launched an internal investigation and provided psychological counselling for Wen. Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Administration has also opened its own probe and warned it will impose penalties if the crew’s actions are found to have affected flight safety.
