A pilot has been suspended from duty for six months for allowing his wife to enter the cockpit to avoid paying for a flight ticket.

In response to news that a pilot allowed his wife to enter the cockpit without permission, Donghai Airlines announced on Wednesday that the incident took place on July 28 last year.

The pilot of flights DZ6286 and DZ6206 asked his wife to only buy the ticket for the first flight, DZ6286. On the second leg of the flight to Beijing, the pilot let his wife stay in the cockpit for the whole trip, in violation of operational and safety regulations.

Donghai Airlines punished the crew, with the pilot, as captain of the flight, shouldering the main responsibility. He was suspended from flying for six months, fined 12,000 yuan (US$1,760), and banned from being a pilot instructor for life. The co-pilot was suspended for 15 days and fined 6,000 yuan. The other crew members were also fined.