Croatia Airlines probes flightdeck incident

NEWS FLASH

Croatia Airlines has suspended its head of Flight Operations, Josip Grgec, and a trainee pilot after the latter was left alone in the cockpit on a flight from London Heathrow to Zagreb and filmed a video of himself on a mobile phone. During the flight, captain Grgeč left the cockpit of the Airbus A319 to chat with cabin crew, leaving his trainee, known only as Slaven P, alone to make his home movie which he later posted on social media. At one point on his video, the trainee pilot is heard saying, "Come on, one coffee here", before panning round the cockpit showing the empty pilot seat and the closed door. Pilots are banned from being alone on the flightdeck since new rules came in to effect after a Germanwings flight crashed when suicidal pilot Andreas Lubiz was left alone, killing himself and 149 passengers and crew on board last year.  In a statement, the carrier said, "Croatia Airlines are aware of the incident involving a flight from London Heathrow to Zagreb. The investigation is ongoing and the persons involved have been suspended while until it has concluded. They will not be flying as part of the suspension".