A top pilot for Qantas has defended Jetstar’s pilots after they were called ‘princesses’ in an email over working hours.

Captain Richard Woodward, who captains Airbus A380 aircraft for Qantas, an affiliate of Jetstar, said that the complaint that Jetstar pilots had made regarding feeling drowsy due to harsh working hours was a ‘serious’ concern.

His comments come after Jetstar pilots received an email calling them ‘princesses’ and saying they must ‘toughen up’ after several workers had complained of fatigue due to working hours on routes between Singapore and Perth.

Also the Australian and International Pilots Association’s vice president, Captain Woodward said that recent research had revealed that tired pilots were prone to making mistakes and said that the airline should implement changes to make sure that passengers are safe. He added that the research didn’t necessarily mean an accident was waiting to happen but did mean that tired crewmembers were causing minor problems.

The email has since been tabled at a hearing in the Senate, during which Jetstar and Qantas executives were heavily criticised. Senator Nick Xenophon (independent) called the email ‘concerning’ and said it could mean there is a bullying culture in the workplace for pilots. He added that he had been approached by other pilots asking for an inquiry into the issue.