Sri Lanka Airlines Pilot Locks Co-Pilot Out of Cockpit Over Toilet Break Dispute

While unruly passengers from 35,000 feet in the air are often in the headlines, two pilots manning a SriLankan Airlines flight were at odds with one another to the point in which the captain locked his copilot out of the cockpit. The airline ruled that the captain has been suspended and is currently being investigated.

Lavatory Lockout

The incident occurred on a SriLankan flight from Sydney, Australia to the airline's hub in Colombo, Sri Lanka on September 21, 2024. At one point during the 10-hour trek on the Airbus A330, the female copilot began to leave her post to go to the restroom on the cabin. This apparently infuriated the male pilot, as she didn't arrange another attendant to take her place in the cockpit while she was away, as it violates "standard operating procedures" to leave the pilot alone in the cockpit. An argument ensued between the two pilots, leading to the female passenger eventually leaving to relieve herself.

When the copilot returned from the restroom, she found the door to the cockpit was locked. The argument continued between the two pilots as the situation escalated to other crew members on the flight. A senior flight attendant had to intervene using the intercom system to speak to the pilot in order to convince him to open the door and allow the copilot back in her seat. 

The plane landed safely in Colombo without any further drama. Up to 297 passengers could have been on board the flight.

Sri Lanka's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is conducting an investigation with SirLankan Airlines, with the male pilot put under suspension for the time being.

“The airline is fully cooperating with the relevant authorities, and the captain has been grounded pending the outcome of the investigation,” the airline's statement to media outlets read. “Safety and compliance with all regulatory requirements remain SriLankan Airlines’ top priorities.”
 

While rules and regulations vary among countries and airlines, SriLankan airlines policies state that at least two people must be present in the cockpit at all times during flights. It's not currently known why the female copilot didn't arrange to have a substitute attendant in the cockpit.

Many airlines have started to enforce this rule as pilots being unattended and isolated posed a serious risk. In 2015, a pilot with a history of mental health issues locked himself in the cockpit and deliberately crashed the plane, killing everyone on board.
 

In 2022, two Air France pilots were suspended after a physical altercation took place inside the cockpit. Crew members had to separate the two pilots, with one having to stay on the flight deck for more than an hour during the flight.