Delta flight delayed by two hours after fight between pilot and crew member

Both crew members were removed after the altercation

The Delta flight was delayed at New York's LaGuardia Airport (Getty Images)

A flight from New York to Portland was delayed by two hours after an argument between a pilot and a flight attendant on board.

The row took place on Monday morning before the Delta flight left LaGuardia Airport. Speaking to the New York Daily News, a witness reported that the 54-year-old pilot and 26-year-old attendant fought in the aisle. The witness said: “He (the pilot) and the attendant exchanged words in the aisle and he called her “a piece of s—t.

“His conversation was racist, inconsiderate and unprofessional.”

Six Port Authority officers, some armed, then interviewed flight attendants in the jetty according to the witness. Both parties claimed their arm had been grabbed by the other.

No arrests were made but both crew members were removed from the flight and replaced before the journey began. The fracas added a two-hour delay to a journey scheduled to take 1 hour 45 minutes.

Delta apologised to passengers for the delay and said it was investigating the incident.

The service was operated by Delta subsidiary Endeavour Air who also issued an apology. A spokesperson for the airline said: “Endeavor Air apologises to the customers on board Endeavor Air flight 3925, operating as Delta Connection, from LaGuardia to Portland, Maine whose travel was inconvenienced as a result of a disagreement between two crew members.

“The actions of these crew members, as described, in no way reflects the respect, values and professionalism we expect from our employees.”