Qantas probes LA crew fight: report June 16, 2005 - 3:19PM Page Tools Email to a friend Printer format Qantas says it is conducting a formal investigation into a punch-up involving three of its crew members in a Los Angeles hotel. The incident has attracted criticism of the airline from the flight attendants' union, which says crew are under increased stress because of the company's poor staff management. The fight is believed to have broken out between two cabin crew and a second officer in a room at the Bonaventure Hotel in central Los Angeles on Saturday, The Australian newspaper reports. A comment by the pilot about a spilt drink allegedly resulted in punches being thrown. Qantas says the crew members have been flown back to Sydney and stood down from duty. "We are conducting a formal investigation into this incident," a Qantas spokesman said. "Qantas takes a firm line on any allegations of misconduct and a full inquiry will be conducted." The company refused to comment further on the incident. It also refused to confirm recent reports of staff violence in Tokyo and Singapore. Advertisement AdvertisementFlight Attendants Association of Australia (FAAA) international division secretary Michael Mijatov declined to comment on the Los Angeles incident. But he said Qantas flight attendants were under heightened strain because of tight rostering schedules and increasing work pressures. "I think quite clearly our members are under lots of pressure in terms of actions by the company," Mr Mijatov said. "(Qantas have) been undertaking a directed long service leave program (where) they're forcing (crew) to take long service leave (so) operationally they're running a really tight establishment. "People are really angry because they're only getting a month's notice and even if they wanted to they can't organise with their families to do things and this is a result of poor management by the company." Flight attendants were also unhappy with the recent changes to their accommodation in Los Angeles, he said. "We've got an issue with the Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles where the incident occurred. "They've moved us there and it's a really high crime area, lots of vagrants, homeless and people are being accosted."