A regional Chinese airline is in hot water after one of its pilots poured verbal abuse on ground staff before flying out of Lukou, while in its subsequent statement of apology, the airline used language considered by many to be a further insult to Nanjingers.
The incident took place on the morning of 26 June, during the preparations for the departure of flight GJ8803 by Hangzhou-based, Loongair, from Stand 54 at Nanjing Lukou International Airport to Lanzhou in Gansu Province.
The airline crew arrived at the aircraft at 10:03, whereupon flight crew immediately initiated the A320’s Auxiliary Power Unit. The altercation occurred when a Juneyao Airlines maintenance staff member, surnamed Han, began an exchange with the captain. An English transcript of part of their conversation, published by aviation portal, Apron (停机坪), as follows.
Han: “I’m sorry, Captain, I need take down the storage bag on your left.”
Captain: “Why are you so slow?”
Han: “We guarantee that preparations begin 1 and a half hours before normal departure time.”
Captain: “You are too slow. We never leave the crew to turn on the power themselves. We didn’t even have air conditioning on the plane.”
Han: “I’m sorry, captain, but because the plane was here overnight, the engine covers were still in place. And two of us had to push the ladder to get at the pitot tube covers.”
Captain: “It took all three of you to do this? … Look what time it is now.”
It was then just 10:15, while the aircraft’s estimated departure time was 11:15. Han explained the reasons for the delay in readying the aircraft.
Captain: “Your Nanjing guarantee is too poor. Planes here are standing still, while in Hangzhou it has never been so. Nanjing people have bad roots. Are you from Nanjing?”
Han: “No Captain, I am not.”
Captain: “Then you are polluted by Nanjing and you are inferior in nature.”
Cutting words indeed. But that aircrews are such consummate professionals has many baffled at the attitude of the pilot. Others point to the sweltering heat inside the aircraft making the pilot quickly enraged as explanation for his ire.
The proverbial oil was then thrown on the fire, when Loongair issued a statement of apology. Therein, the company referred to the people of Nanjing in the informal, much like saying “Nanjingers” (南京人), as opposed to “the respected people of Nanjing” (南京人民). A modified version utilising the latter expression was issued just 20 minutes later.
