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Jun Mai

A budget carrier owned by China Eastern Airlines has been penalised for multiple safety violations, including a mid-flight brawl between two pilots in June.
The mainland's Civil Aviation Administration has cut China United Airlines' flight time by 10 per cent and banned it from adding routes and flights, according to World Civil Aviation Resource Net, an aviation website.
A statement by the aviation administration cited three severe safety violations, including "a physical clash among two crew members" on June 14, and one on July 29 when a plane "not suitable to fly" continued its journey.
On July 19, one of the airline's planes also flew below the minimum safety altitude.
A statement by China Eastern Airlines admitted a physical altercation between two pilots had occurred "mid-air" because of "misunderstandings".
But it denied reports by another aviation news service, Hangkong Wuyu, that the pilots fought until one sustained head injuries and began bleeding.
READ MORE: China United Airlines converted into budget carrier
The aviation authority's statement said the three incidents highlighted safety risks. Inspections by its northern China bureau also found 50 issues that involved poor management, it said.
The entire crew on the June 14 flight in which the fight occurred had also been barred from flying for six months, World Civil Aviation Resource Net reported.
Other safety violations by the airline included one flight having "insufficient altitude while making a descent" and a plane operating "while not suitable to fly", according to the report.
China United Airlines is a Beijing-based domestic carrier that flies to cities including Shanghai and Guangzhou.
Early last month, the aviation authority had already reprimanded the carrier for flight delays. It cited the example of a Beijing-bound flight being delayed for four hours at Shenzhen after a passenger opened the plane's emergency door.
The authority also censured Shenzhen airport and two other airlines operating in the airport over their poor management of large-scale flight delays.
The authority said at the time that it would stop accepting the airport's applications for new flight routes, to increase flights and offer air charter services.
Flight punctuality on the mainland declined for the fourth consecutive year to 68 per cent in 2014 - the lowest rate since the data was made publicly available in 2006, according to a report published by the regulator in May.
 


Chinese airline punished for safety violations denies its two pilots brawled during flight 

One of China United's fleet of aircraft. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Shenzhen airport punished for poor handling of flight delays that caused angry passengers to misbehave

Shenzhen Baoan International Airport failed to deal appropriately with large-scale flight delays, says China's Civil Aviation Administration. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

China's ambitious privately owned airlines seek to spread wings

Spring Airlines is Asia's largest budget airline by market value, and has 10 aircraft based in five cities outside China.Photo: SCMP Pictures

China's new budget carrier Jiangxi Airlines ready for take-off

Jiangxi Airlines, a start-up by China Southern-controlled Xiamen Airlines, is waiting for operational permits. Photo: AFP

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China

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Aviation regulator hits China United Airlines with heavy penalties over safety violations


Chinese airline punished for safety violations denies its two pilots brawled during flight

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Aviation regulator hits China United Airlines with heavy penalties over safety violations

Aviation regulator hits China United Airlines with heavy penalties over safety violations