Two Pilots Fired After Brazilian Pop Star Takes Captain’s Seat Mid-Flight

by Libby Zay on

A Brazilian pop star who calls himself Latino has put TAM Airlines in the hot seat after he was allegedly invited to sit in the captain’s chair during a cross-country flight from Recife to Rio de Janeiro. Pictures of the singer in the cockpit of an Airbus A320-200 were circulated on Instagram and posted to the musician’s website the day after the incident, but were later removed.

According to an incident report on The Aviation Herald, autopilot was on and the first officer was in his seat when Latino climbed into the captain’s chair. After a few pictures were snapped, the captain took back his seat and the aircraft continued for a safe landing in Rio.

The news outlet reports the airline initially claimed the photos were taken while the plane was on the ground, but later admitted the aircraft was in-flight, evidenced by engine instruments and navigation displays in the background of the photos. Both pilots have been fired as a result of the occurrence, and Brazil’s Agência Nacional de Aviação Civi – the country’s equivalent to the Federal Aviation Administration in the United States – has opened an investigation.

Airplane Engine Covering Falls Off During Takeoff (VIDEO)

by Libby Zay on

A passenger filming out an airplane window captured part of an engine cowling ripping off during takeoff on a flight in Brazil. Watch above to get an idea of how the terrified passengers – who later described the event as an “engine explosion” – must have felt watching the parts fly off. According to an incident report on The Aviation Herald, it all happened on a TAM Airlines Airbus A320-200 traveling from Natal to São Paulo on Saturday, May 19. There were 166 people on board, many of whom you can hear hurriedly asking questions and yelling during the video. According to the Herald, both the inboard and outboard fan cowl doors of the left engine opened in flight and “were ripped off.” Stay tuned until 1:54 to see the extent of the damage. In the end, the pilot managed to return to the airport in Natal without any further problems – but the passengers sure did get a scare.