The pilot and co-pilot of a Korean Air flight got into a fist fight with each other after a disagreement occurred during their discussion about ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol and his Dec. 3 imposition of martial law, the airline confirmed on Monday.
Korean Air said that the "unfortunate event" occurred between the two pilots of the flight that flew from Incheon to Brisbane, Australia in December last year. The altercation, which was over differences in their political opinions, did not occur in the air, but while the plane and the flight crew were still in Australia. It resulted in injuries to both men, requiring medical attention at a local hospital.
As they were temporarily incapacitated from flying the plane, alternate crew from the airline were deployed for the flight home that was scheduled for two days after the flight.
The two have since been fired from the job, Korean Air said, following a review by the company's disciplinary committee.
In order to prevent similar incidents from happening, Korean Air said it has conducted training sessions on the company guidelines to its employees.
Yoon, the disgraced former president of South Korea was impeached for illegally declaring martial law on the country for the first time in over 40 years on Dec. 3 last year. His impeachment was confirmed by the Constitutional Court on Friday.
Thousands of protestors calling for Yoon's ouster and against it took to the streets during the months after Dec. 3, amid the political turmoil that followed.
minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com
![[Exclusive] Ateez to return in November](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/09/02/news-p.v1.20260902.76162fb0ba55493aad1c076f240d0750_R.jpg?type=h&h=120)