An Air Canada pilot who left the flight deck to visit the washroom found himself locked out of the cockpit when he tried to return -- forcing the crew to remove the door from its hinges.
It happened aboard an Air Canada Jazz flight on Saturday, and the company confirmed to Global National yesterday it is conducting an internal investigation into the incident that took place on the Bombardier CRJ-100 carrying as many as 50 passengers from Ottawa to Winnipeg.
At approximately 4:15 p.m., with approximately 20 minutes remaining on the two hour and 30 minute flight, the pilot on Flight 8475 apparently left the cockpit to use the washroom at the back of the plane, leaving the flight's first officer in control of the plane -- a normal event when a member of the crew needs to use a washroom.
For approximately 10 minutes, passengers described seeing the pilot bang on the door and communicating with the cockpit through an internal telephone, but being unable to open the cabin door.
Eventually, the crew forced the door open by taking the door off its hinges completely, and the pilots safely landed the plane -- although in the event that the pilot was unable to access the cockpit, the first officer is also fully qualified to land the aircraft.
Though the story itself is funny, it does expose some gaps in the security of doors. The fact that they could take the door of its hinges is a bit distrubing.
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