Daily Mail –A holiday jet was cancelled last Thursday after the pilot was taken from the plane after allegations he fought with a member of ground crew.
The 9:20pm Aegean Airlines flight A3425. from Gatwick to Heraklion was first delayed and then scrapped after the alleged fight last Thursday.
Passengers said they saw the pilot being walked off the plane by police shortly before the flight was due to take off.
Passengers were reportedly told of the row between the pilot and a dispatcher, someone responsible to sending off a plane off and advising on a route.
A flight dispatcher assists in planning flight paths, taking into account aircraft performance and loading, enroute wind, thunderstorm, and turbulence forecasts, and field conditions at the destination and alternate airports. Dispatchers also provide a flight following service and advise pilots if conditions or paths change. They usually work in the operations center of the airline. In some countries the flight dispatcher shares legal responsibility with the commander of the aircraft (joint responsibility dispatch system).
Sussex police have confirmed an arrest was made and they are still investigating the incident at the airport’s South Terminal.
A spokesman said: ‘Shortly after 9pm on Thursday, 21 July, police were called to the South Terminal at Gatwick Airport following an allegation of assault by a member of airline crew.
‘The incident is alleged to have occurred on an aircraft, however no passengers were on board at the time.’
It was the second unusual incident to have affected Gatwick travellers going to Heraklion last week , after a BA plane turned back when passengers smelt “cannabis” on board.
