Generally speaking, if you’re running late for a flight, that’s your problem, and the plane isn’t going to wait for you. There seems to be an exception if you have a direct line to the captain, though, as reported by Times of Malta.
In this post:
KM Malta Airlines flight delayed to wait for captain’s friend
This incident dates back to Saturday, April 26, 2025, though the story is only now getting attention, after the airline completed an investigation and took action.
On that day, KM Malta Airlines flight KM613 was scheduled to operate a flight from Rome (FCO) to Malta (MLA), using an Airbus A320neo with the registration code 9H-NEG. The short 427-mile flight was scheduled to depart at 9:50AM and arrive at 11:20AM.
Shortly before the flight’s departure, the captain was contacted by a fellow pilot, who asked him to delay the flight to give him and his family time to arrive at the airport. The pilot who made the request was the former head of the pilots union, and he was on holiday in Rome with several members of his family.
The flight was indeed held. The plane ended up pushing back at 10:36AM (46 minutes behind schedule), and taking off at 10:54AM. The plane then landed in Malta at 12PM and arrived at the gate at 12:05PM (45 minutes behind schedule).
An investigation determined that the pilot who made the request for the flight to be held was violating company policy, which prohibits staff from requesting special travel arrangements. He also breached policy by directly contacting the captain of the flight, rather than informing the company’s operations team.
While being investigated, the pilot claimed that he made the request because a member of his family (who was traveling with him) was unwell, and needed to return home.
The pilot who made the request was disciplined, and had his staff travel privileges suspended for three months. He also received a warning letter, which will remain in his record for a year. The captain of the flight, meanwhile, also received a warning. I’ve gotta say, that seems like really light punishment all around, no?
Pilots union defends pilots, says they did nothing wrong
A spokesperson for the pilots union has spoken out in support of the pilots, describing both pilots as “exemplary professionals who would never abuse of their positions.”
The union stated that “ALPA will not delve into the particulars of the case,” though shared that since the pilot was off-duty at the time of the incident, he was essentially acting as a regular passenger.
The spokesperson also claimed that the pilot “followed the ethos of the company” to show care for passengers, by “waiting for this passenger on medical grounds, having evaluated that there would be no operational consequences to the delay and after consulting with KMMA Operations Control.”
The union is angry that this incident has been made public, and claims that “this breach could have serious repercussions on flight and public safety, pilot well-being and, ultimately, KMMA’s success.”
C’mon, I’m supportive of the right for unions to exist and to advocate for members, but this is just ridiculous:
- They didn’t abuse their positions? Could someone then tell me how as an average passenger I can get a direct line to the captain, to let them know that I’m running late?
- The argument is that since the pilot was off-duty, he wasn’t acting in an official capacity, as if that somehow justifies the behavior
- I love talk of the company’s ethos of showing care for passengers, but don’t tell me that this would’ve happened for any other passenger, beyond a friend of the pilot
Funny enough, this isn’t even the first time that something like this has happened at the airline (well, or at predecessor Air Malta). In 2012, a high ranking Air Malta pilot delayed a flight by 30 minutes after arriving late with his family, demanding that check-in be reopened.
Bottom line
Two KM Malta Airlines pilots have been disciplined over a late April 2025 incident, which has just been investigated. The former head of the pilots union was on vacation in Rome, and phoned up the captain of the flight, and asked him to hold the plane.
The aircraft ended up being delayed by around 45 minutes. The airline claims this violates company policies, and both pilots have been disciplined. The union, meanwhile, claims that the captain of the flight was just following the company’s ethos of showing care for passengers, as the off-duty pilot claimed they had some medical need that required returning to Malta.
What do you make of this KM Malta Airlines pilot incident?
IMHO - Too much drama for only a 45 minute delay
Missed connections, and rotation delays. Europe is slot restricted so
it would cost KM a lot
Of course the union is angry. Their members showed blatant contempt for regular passengers and it was made public. I’m just stunned that the union has the audacity to say that no wrongdoing was committed. Not a good hill to die on. Ultimately both pilots and the union look like weasels here.
A good way to show care for the passengers is to not delay 100+ of them for three people who can't get to the airport in time.
Not surprising as this concerns a Maltese company. On that island somebody knows somebody who knows somebody. One favour earns another. The only person likely to get in trouble is the one who reported it.
Relax, Jake, it's Maltatown.
Sorry, that should read "Forget it, Jake, it's Maltatown".
I expect many will disagree with me, but I believe this is entirely overblown.
Why don't we believe in professional courtesy anymore? If indeed there were no operational consequences, I would have no issue with a pilot extending an above-and-beyond service to a fellow pilot, otherwise unavailable to anyone outside true VIPs (political leaders, the company's own board members, etc).
United will absolutely hold a flight for a Global Services member, though that has to...
I expect many will disagree with me, but I believe this is entirely overblown.
Why don't we believe in professional courtesy anymore? If indeed there were no operational consequences, I would have no issue with a pilot extending an above-and-beyond service to a fellow pilot, otherwise unavailable to anyone outside true VIPs (political leaders, the company's own board members, etc).
United will absolutely hold a flight for a Global Services member, though that has to be done via "the system" as opposed to a quick ring to the pilot's personal number.
Is that the issue, where the procedure was violated, rather than any issue with the result (being the delay itself)?
You are aware there are usually more people on board than a one group of pax? All of these people, who arrived at the airport well in advance to make sure they catch their flight, were delayed because of one selfish person who didn't plan their trip sufficiently.
Samo,
See the above example of the United Global Services member.
If United values them more than the other passengers (they literally do), then the experience is the same for all the delayed passengers, whether they were responsible and arrived 2 hours or more, or even with only 5 minutes to spare, vs the GS that arrived late. As we all know, this absolutely happens.
I would be frustrated, but I understand that I am...
Samo,
See the above example of the United Global Services member.
If United values them more than the other passengers (they literally do), then the experience is the same for all the delayed passengers, whether they were responsible and arrived 2 hours or more, or even with only 5 minutes to spare, vs the GS that arrived late. As we all know, this absolutely happens.
I would be frustrated, but I understand that I am actually not that important to the pilot or the airline.
You can claim the other pilot was selfish, and he probably was. If I had a sick family member or whatever, the airplane would've left without me.
If I were a pilot, and knew the one flying, I would absolutely make a call to help in my personal situation. Again, I feel that this is overblown, but my feeling is that it was only even an issue at the airline because the airline hierarchy or planning department was sidestepped.
A perfect example where the union ridiculous attempt at justifying this ("did nothing wrong"?) made things worse.
Would have made a lot more sense to keep silent on this one. The fact that they did decide to release that statement just proves that the pilot in question knows how to pull the right strings, with or without an unwell family member.
Seems like they got off very light with a warning and 3-month suspension of staff travel privileges. Doesnt surprise me that it isnt the first time its happening and not likely to be the last.