Air India has grounded two of its pilots pending an investigation into an in-flight brawl that apparently took place at cruising altitude in front of a planeload of horrified passengers.

The aircraft was en route from Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates to Delhi when the fighting started after a stewardess accused a co-pilot of sexual harassment.

According to reports, the cockpit of the Airbus A320 was unattended at one point as the scuffle continued. The pilot also threatened to divert the flight to Pakistan.

Two pilots and two cabin crew have been grounded while the carrier investigates the matter.

Air India was in the news earlier in the year for firing air hostesses for being overweight. That case is now before the Supreme Court.

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