Regulations & Safety
EVA Air Captain Suspended After Alleged Cockpit Assault at LAX
EVA Air suspends captain following alleged cockpit assault during taxi at LAX. Investigation launched by airline and Taiwan Civil Aeronautics Administration.
This article summarizes reporting by Aviation24.be, Focus Taiwan, and other industry sources.
EVA Air has suspended a senior captain and launched a formal investigation following reports of a physical altercation inside the cockpit of a Boeing 777-300ER at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The incident, which reportedly took place in late December 2025 or early January 2026, involved a dispute over taxiing speed that escalated into physical violence between the flight deck crew members.
According to reporting by Aviation24.be and Taiwanese media outlets, the conflict occurred while the aircraft was preparing for departure to Taipei (TPE). The altercation has drawn the attention of Taiwan’s Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA), which has initiated an independent probe into potential safety violations.
While the flight completed its transpacific journey safely, the incident has raised significant questions regarding Crew Resource Management (CRM) and the airline’s decision to allow the pilots to continue the flight immediately after the alleged assault.
The incident reportedly began during the taxi-out phase at LAX. Sources indicate that the First Officer, a Malaysian national serving as the Pilot Monitoring (PM), believed the aircraft was moving too fast. Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) generally dictate a taxi speed limit of approximately 30 knots.
Reports from Focus Taiwan suggest that the First Officer issued verbal warnings regarding the speed, which were allegedly ignored by the Captain, a Taiwanese national identified by the surname Wen. Following the ignored warnings, the First Officer intervened by manually applying the brakes.
This intervention reportedly enraged the Captain. According to details summarized by Simple Flying and Mothership.sg, the Captain physically assaulted his colleague in response to the braking maneuver.
“The captain… reportedly became enraged by the intervention and punched the first officer at least four times.”
, Summary of reports via Aviation24.be
The First Officer reportedly sustained visible physical injuries, including bruising and swelling on the back of his hand. Despite the violence in the flight deck, the aircraft proceeded to take off and complete the long-haul flight to Taiwan.
Following the flight, EVA Air moved to address the situation, though whistleblowers have criticized the timeline of the airline’s response.
EVA Air has stated that the Captain is currently suspended from flight duties pending the outcome of the investigation. However, the airline offered a defense regarding the technical cause of the dispute. According to the carrier, preliminary data retrieved from the aircraft’s Quick Access Recorder (QAR) suggests the plane was not speeding and remained within regulatory limits during the taxi sequence.
The case is set to be referred to the airline’s disciplinary review board once the investigation concludes. The Taiwan CAA has also stated it will impose legal penalties if the investigation confirms that flight safety was compromised by the crew’s conduct.
The handling of the incident has sparked internal criticism. A whistleblower cited in Taiwanese media, including The Reporter, questioned why the airline’s emergency response plan was not activated immediately. The primary concern raised was the fitness of the Captain to command a flight immediately after exhibiting what was described as “emotionally unstable” behavior.
Critics argue that allowing a pilot who has just allegedly assaulted a crew member to operate a 12-hour flight across the Pacific poses a severe risk to passengers and crew, regardless of whether the taxi speed was technically within limits.
This cockpit altercation is the latest in a series of operational and personnel challenges facing EVA Air. Industry observers note that the airline has dealt with several high-profile incidents in recent years.
The Breakdown of Crew Resource Management (CRM)
While the physical assault is the most sensational aspect of this story, the underlying safety failure is the total collapse of Crew Resource Management (CRM). Modern aviation safety relies on the “two-person rule,” where pilots cross-check each other to prevent errors. If a First Officer feels they cannot speak up, or worse, if they are physically attacked for intervening, the safety net is destroyed. Furthermore, the decision to continue the flight is perplexing from a risk management perspective. A cockpit environment where one pilot has struck another is, by definition, a hostile work environment. Communication and trust, which are essential for handling in-flight emergencies, would be non-existent. If these allegations are substantiated, it suggests a significant lapse in the safety culture regarding pilot fitness and conflict resolution.
Was the flight cancelled? Was the plane actually speeding? What is the status of the pilots?
EVA Air Captain Suspended Following Alleged Cockpit Assault at LAX
Details of the Cockpit Dispute
Escalation to Violence
Operational Response and Investigations
Airline Findings vs. Crew Allegations
Whistleblower Concerns
Broader Context: Safety and Labor Challenges
AirPro News Analysis
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Despite the altercation occurring on the ground at LAX, the flight continued to Taipei and landed safely.
EVA Air claims that data from the Quick Access Recorder (QAR) indicates the aircraft was within standard taxi speed limits, contradicting the First Officer’s perception at the time.
The Captain has been suspended pending investigation. The status of the First Officer has not been publicly specified beyond the reporting of his injuries.
Sources:
Photo Credit: Boeing