Airplane News: Pilot fight, Piedmont Offering Jobs, Passengers Airdrop nudes, A320 Engine Fire

This week in airplane news: Pilots on an Air France got into a fistfight during a flight, Piedmont Airlines is offering jobs to ExpressJet pilots without an interview, A SWA pilot threatened to turn the plane around due to passengers airdropping naked pictures, and a flight from Mexico to LA turned back after engine troubles.

Two pilots are in “time out” after they came to blows in the cockpit.

The incident happened in June and details are scarce.

The fight happened during the trip from Geneva to Paris.

Members of the cabin crew broke up the flight and one chaperoned the pilots during the remainder of the flight.

https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/pilots-duke-it-out-on-air-france-flight/

Piedmont Airlines is offering jobs to pilots laid off by ExpressJet - without an interview.

“No one wants to see an airline fail, ever. We know that ExpressJet pilots are well-trained aviators who know the Embraer 145, and we are very pleased to make this transition as easy as possible for them.”

Piedmont is using the “distressed carrier” provision in its ALPA contract to allow them to offer a “Safe haven” for pilots left jobless due to business failure.

https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/piedmont-offering-laid-off-pilots-jobs-without-interviews

A Southwest flight headed to Cabo threatened to turn the plane around while still on the ground.

This was due to a passenger airdropping nude images to others during the flight.

"So here's the deal, if this continues while we're on the ground, I'm going to have to pull back to the gate, everybody is going to have to get off, we're going to have to get security involved, and vacation is going to be ruined. So you folks, whatever that airdrop thing is, quit sending naked pictures, and let's get yourselves to Cabo.”

https://www.indy100.com/viral/southwest-airlines-passenger-airdrop-nudes

A flight from Guadalajara to Las Vegas was forced to turn back after an engine failed during the climb out.

The airline said the fire was caused by “friction of metals” in the engine.

TheA320 turned around and landed safely in Guadalajara.

https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/mexico-los-angeles-airplane-engine-burst-flames