Ankara - The Turkish Airline Pilot's Association (TALPA) on Tuesday condemned an attack on a Turkish pilot who was beaten for ordering that a passenger be removed before the take-off of a Sunexpress charter flight between Antalya and Frankfurt.

After an argument over seat allocations, Pilot Gokhan Dincer called police to remove Huseyin Ozen who was behaving in an unruly matter, TALPA said in a written press release. Ozen reportedly told the pilot that he would "hold you to account" for the incident. Upon the flight's return to Antalya later the same day, Dincer made his way to his house where he was set upon by four men, including Ozen.

Dincer suffered facial injuries and was treated at a local hospital.

"The attack on our colleague is an attack on all who work in the aviation sector. We condemn the attack and the attackers," the TALPA statement said. (dpa)