Furious male captain locks female co-pilot out of cockpit during 10-hour flight

What a cabin block.

A plane captain has been suspended after locking his female co-pilot off the flight deck because she went to the bathroom during a 10-hour flight.

The Sri Lankan Airlines flight was traveling from Sydney, Australia to Colombo, Sri Lanka, last month when the first officer decided to use the toilet, leaving only her male compatriot at the controls, News.com.au reported.

When the sky advisor returned, she found herself unable to open the flight deck door.

As it turned out, the “petty” officer had locked her out because she hadn’t arranged for someone to take her seat during her bathroom break – a breach of “standard operating procedures”.

His isolation alone caused a tense standoff that was finally resolved after senior crew members convinced the flight boy over the comms to let his co-pilot back in (as a reverse hostage situation).

The plane, with 297 passengers, landed safely at its destination without further incident.

The pilot has since been grounded Sri Lanka Airlines is investigating the matter with the Sri Lankan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

The carrier also released a statement addressing the captain’s strange move.

“The airline is cooperating fully with the relevant authorities and the captain has been grounded pending the outcome of the investigation,” airline representatives said, via Simple Flying. “Safety and compliance with all regulatory requirements remain Sri Lankan Airlines’ top priorities.”

While pilots can leave the cockpit mid-flight to use the restroom, international aviation protocols mandate that two pilots be present on the flight deck at all times, Simple Flying reported.

If there is no third co-pilot, a flight attendant must remain in the control room until the first officer returns.

During long-haul flights, there are usually three to four pilots, ensuring that there is always someone controlling the aircraft while others rest or use the bathroom.