Air India plans to ban pilots from bringing their own food into the cockpit after a skirmish over a lunchbox caused a delay to a flight.
An altercation took place after a pilot ordered a cabin crew member to clean the lunchbox after eating.
It is unclear whether the dispute turned physical but was serious enough for both to be hauled off the airplane.
They were then replaced causing a near-two hour delay to the Bengaluru-Kolkata flight.
"We have taken a serious note of this incident that happened on Monday. We will soon ask the pilots to not bring their own food on flights," a senior airline official said.
"I have been told that the captain wanted the cabin crew member to clean the tiffin after he finished his meal. Probably, this is what led to a fight between them. An investigation regarding this incident has already been started. Strict action will be taken," another airline source said.
Both employees have been ordered to attend a meeting at the airline HQ to explain their actions.
Air India chairman Ashwani Lohani reportedly said: "This nonsense has to stop and will stop."
