6 held in Air France union brawl that left execs shirtless

October 12, 2015 at 8:38 a.m. | Updated October 12, 2015 at 8:45 a.m.

by Associated Press

FILE - In this Monday, Oct. 5, 2015 file photo, Air France director of Human Resources Xavier Broseta, right, and Air France assistant director of long-haul flights Pierre Plissonnier, center, are protected by a police officer as they flee Air France headquarters at Roissy Airport, north of Paris, France, after scuffles with union activist. Air France sent an unusual appeal Friday, Oct. 9, 2015 to its passengers worldwide, insisting that violent, clothes-ripping union protests this week don’t represent the airline and that it’s just trying to stay competitive. Unions and Air France management resumed negotiations Friday over hotly contested job cuts for the first time since activists assaulted airline executives Monday, leaving two shirtless and clambering over a fence to safety. (AP Photo/Jacques Brinon, File)
FILE - In this Monday, Oct. 5, 2015 file photo, Air France director of Human Resources Xavier Broseta, right, and Air France assistant director of long-haul flights Pierre Plissonnier, center, are protected by a police officer as they flee Air France headquarters at Roissy Airport, north of Paris, France, after scuffles with union activist. Air France sent an unusual appeal Friday, Oct. 9, 2015 to its passengers worldwide, insisting that violent, clothes-ripping union protests this week don’t represent the airline and that it’s just trying to stay competitive. Unions and Air France management resumed negotiations Friday over hotly contested job cuts for the first time since activists assaulted airline executives Monday, leaving two shirtless and clambering over a fence to safety. (AP Photo/Jacques Brinon, File)

PARIS (AP) - French prosecutors say six people have been arrested in connection with an Air France union meeting brawl that left two executives shirtless.

During a meeting a week ago about fiercely contested job cuts at the money-losing airline, union activists assaulted the managers, including the airline's head of human resources, ripping their shirts from their bodies and prompting them to flee over a fence.

The Bobigny prosecutor's office confirmed that five people were arrested early Monday, saying the allegations of aggravated assault carried a maximum five years in prison. A sixth was detained later in the day.

Air France blames the violence on "isolated individuals" and negotiations have resumed. It is proposing a sweeping plan that involves 2,900 more job losses and longer hours.

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