Pilots Who Used Rubber Chicken To Work Plane's Throttle Under Investigation

Irish budget airline Ryanair has launched an investigation after learning of a video showing two pilots goofing off in the cockpit of a Boeing 737-800. In the video, one of the pilots takes a rubber chicken and uses it to push the throttle forward.

In another part of the video, the pilot is still playing with the chicken. He squeezes it to make it squeak, causing the rest of the crew to burst out laughing. The co-pilot got in on the fun too, sticking his tongue out to the camera. They also draped a pair of rosary beads over the throttle.

The video was filmed while passengers were boarding the airplane.

The airline issued a statement saying that the aircraft was parked, and the engines were shut down at the time. They said that the pilots' actions were unprofessional but posed no threat to the safety of the passengers on board.

"These pictures and video show crew on the ground in a parked aircraft with the engines shut down. While the images are unprofessional, the actions in them posed no risk, and safety was never compromised," Ryanair said. "We encourage our crew to enjoy their work. However, we expect them to remain professional at all times, and we are investigating the matter further."

Photo: Getty Images


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