Investigation Underway After Captain Locked Co-Pilot Out Of Flight Deck On SriLankan Airlines

A recent SriLankan Airlines flight from Sydney to Colombo took an unusual turn when the captain locked the first officer out of the cockpit, violating aviation protocol. As a result, the pilot has been grounded while the airline conducts an investigation

Sri Lankan Airbus A330 departing Sydney | photo by Finn McGuire 

Even when pilots have disagreements, they are expected to maintain professionalism for the safety of the flight. However, this was not the case on flight UL 607. When the first officer left the cockpit for a restroom break, and a cabin crew member was about to enter the flight deck as per procedure, the captain locked the door, leaving himself alone in the cockpit.

The reason for the disagreement between the two pilots remains unclear, but the captain's decision to lock out the first officer was a highly unprofessional response. According to EconomyNext, senior cabin crew members had to convince the captain over the communication system to allow the first officer back in, leading to moments of tension during the flight.

Sri Lankan Airbus A330 arriving in Sydney | photo by Finn McGuire 

While the flight initially departed without any issues, the situation escalated during the service, resulting in a disruption that added to the stress of the long journey to Colombo..