SAA pilot with 23-year flying record fights to save career after turbulence incident sparks court battle
Captain Yvette Walsh has taken the airline to the High Court to salvage her career after being blamed for a mid-air turbulence incident.
South African Airways (SAA) has not commented on the court battle initiated by Captain Yvette Walsh, emphasizing that its operations adhere to stringent safety, compliance, and integrity measures. The experienced pilot, with a 23-year flying career, has brought the airline to the High Court, arguing her career can be salvaged following accusations in a mid-air turbulence incident that injured crew members.
This dispute centers around the cockpit's role in the incident and the mysterious circumstances surrounding Walsh's grounding.
Walsh is requesting an independent investigation into the October 2024 incident aboard an Airbus A330-300 plane flying from Cape Town to OR Tambo International Airport. She asserts she hasn't been granted an equitable platform to contest the findings potentially impacting her career. SAA spokesperson Mphilo Dlamini acknowledged Walsh's legal proceedings, stating the airline is committed to the highest safety standards, regulatory compliance, and operational integrity.
Dlamini reaffirmed the airline's commitment to adhering to civil aviation laws, regulatory requirements, international aviation standards, and internal policies and procedures.
The incident transpired when the aircraft faced turbulence, leading Walsh and the flight's captain, Craig Pearce, to initially suspect severe weather caused rapid vertical movements ("porpoising"). Subsequent Airbus and South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) reviews, however, suggested Walsh's manual control inputs contributed to the aircraft's erratic behavior.
This stance has placed Walsh under scrutiny, leading to her grounding for further procedures. SAA objected to her urgent request for an independent probe, arguing no such necessity exists and the urgency was Walsh's own doing. The airline maintains no ongoing safety concerns regarding the aircraft.
The court has moved the case off the urgent list, with the High Court to handle it next year. Currently, Walsh is on medical leave as the legal dispute persists, and the outcome could decisively influence her ability to return to the cockpit.
Written by urgent.news from The Citizen's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
