SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA- A recent in-flight dispute between a Cessna Citation (N323EZ) and an ABX Air (GB) Boeing 767, operating out of Southern California (LAX), escalated into an unprofessional exchange over air traffic control (ATC) frequencies.
The incident unfolded when the slower private jet caused a delay for the Amazon cargo aircraft, prompting a verbal dispute between the two pilots that was caught on audio and widely circulated.
Photo: By bomberpilot – DSC_4192Uploaded by High Contrast, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=26686375Mid-Air Pilot Dispute
The confrontation began shortly after both aircraft departed the Southern California region. The Cessna Citation, flying ahead, required ABX Air 3111 (Boeing 767) to reduce speed for safe spacing.
Responding to the controller’s instruction, the cargo jet pilot replied, “I need to go fast cause I’m too fat to be going this slow,” referring to the aircraft’s heavy load.
This prompted a sarcastic comment from the Cessna pilot, requesting a higher altitude now that “ABEX isn’t on our frequency to whine about my speed.”
However, ABEX 3111 was still on the frequency and retaliated sharply with, “Maybe you should get a faster airplane and shut the f*ck up.”
The ABX pilot later apologized, stating, “I just didn’t like that guy arguing with me.”
Yet the Cessna pilot responded again, escalating tensions by saying, “Maybe that’s why he’s a cargo dog and not working for a real carrier.”
According to OMAAT, both pilots behaved immaturely, with each escalating the situation rather than maintaining professionalism.
Photo: By iipilot45 – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=101435400Unprofessional Conduct Under Scrutiny
This heated exchange, though rare, illustrates how pilot conduct can stray from aviation norms. ATC communications are expected to be clear, concise, and strictly professional.
Deviations, especially involving vulgar language, are not only frowned upon but may also attract regulatory scrutiny.
The FAA and similar authorities emphasize decorum and discipline over shared frequencies.
Even when operational frustration arises, professional standards require pilots to manage conflict calmly and off-frequency if needed.
In this case, both the private and cargo pilots violated those principles, reducing cockpit credibility and potentially endangering communication clarity for other aircraft on the same frequency.
Thanks to real-time ATC audio recording platforms like VASAviation, such incidents are no longer confined to the skies.
Public scrutiny now follows moments like these, often sparking wider industry conversations about pilot accountability and cockpit discipline.
As pilots operate in high-stress, high-responsibility environments, any lapse in professionalism risks undermining public trust and operational safety.
The incident serves as a reminder that even brief verbal missteps can have lasting reputational consequences.
Photo: By Huhu Uet – Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20450680Bottom Line
The Southern California air traffic control spat between ABX Air (GB) and Cessna N323EZ is a rare but telling example of how quickly tensions can escalate in aviation.
What began as a routine speed adjustment turned into a verbal showdown, with both pilots trading insults over a public frequency.
This incident, while a momentary lapse, highlights the importance of professionalism in the skies.
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