In a bizarre incident on board flight Air India flight AI-772, the Captain and a crew member nearly came to blows when the pilot allegedly ordered the junior staff to wash his lunchbox.

The incident took place on Monday at the Bengaluru airport onboard the Bengaluru- Kolkata flight in front of passengers who had boarded the aircraft by then.

Sources say that the crew member took offence when he was asked to wash the pilot's lunchbox. A heated exchange soon followed even as the flight was ready to take off.

This is when other crew members intervened and saved the situation but the passengers were left scared and shocked with the unruly behaviour of the pilot and a staff member. As a result the Bengaluru-Kolkata flight was delayed by 77 minutes.

An Air India spokesperson confirmed the incident and maintained that the pilot and the crew have been de-rostered pending inquiry. On the question whether the pilot asked the crew member to wash his tiffin box, the spokesperson said, "The matter is under investigation."

Luckily, for the passengers the tiff didn't break out mid-air and the airline took prompt action.

A senior Air India cabin crew on condition of anonymity told India Today TV that such incidents are nothing unusual. "Captains often push the cabin crew to do menial jobs. They ask the crew to make lassi, milkshake and mix and match meals. I have had many such experiences but I have always taken a stand and told the Captains a firm no."

When asked if they complain of such incidents, the cabin crew member said, "What can you say when the Captain becomes your boss. They are closely knit and the complaints against them have no effect."