An easyJet pilot reportedly embarked on a massive drinking session at a Cape Verde resort and then walked naked around the hotel – 36 hours before he was due to fly tourists back to the UK
An easyJet pilot who reportedly walked around a luxury hotel drunk and naked has been suspended.
The captain was scheduled to fly holidaymakers back to the UK from Cape Verde, west Africa the following day but was grounded by the airline. It is reported that the man, who it did not name, arrived at the five-star Melia Dunas Beach Resort and Spa, Cape Verde on August 4, and embarked on a drinking session at a bar which lasted into the early hours of the morning. At 2.30am he removed all his clothes and walked into the reception area before moving onto the gym and spa.
He was due to operate a flight back to Gatwick around 36 hours later on the afternoon of August 6, but a replacement pilot was found. It comes after a dead body is found in ‘underground ancient cave’ in popular UK beauty spot.
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A source told The Sun: “This was breathtakingly unprofessional behaviour from the pilot. It was the height of stupidity. His career with EasyJet is doomed.”
He was quickly recognised at the hotel, leading to the airline finding a replacement. “EasyJet managers couldn’t believe what they were being told but took immediate action after complaints were raised at the highest level,” said a source.
“Anyone who saw the pilot cavorting naked in the early hours on the day before a flight would not dream of getting on a plane with him at the controls. We all make mistakes but the level of stupidity on display here by a veteran captain beggars belief.
“The pilot did not have a stitch on and reeked of alcohol. He was so drunk that you wouldn’t have put him in charge of a toy aeroplane, never mind the real thing with hundreds of passengers.”
An easyJet spokesman said: “As soon as we were made aware, the pilot was immediately stood down from duty, in line with our procedures, pending an investigation. The safety of our passengers and crew is easyJet’s highest priority.”
EasyJet’s flights from Gatwick to Cape Verde are its longest from England, at 2,332 nautical miles. The flights are scheduled to last about six hours.
Meanwhile, a plane was stopped from taking-off after a pilot was found to be “considerably over” the alcohol limit. The cargo plane was grounded at Dublin Airport on September 17 following the discovery, which came during a surprise alcohol test.
The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) conducted an audit at the Irish travel hub, climbing aboard the international freight carrier to verify the pilots’ licences and ensure all onboard documentation was in order.
It was during this routine procedure that the IAA inspectors subjected the pilots to routine breathalyser tests. One of the flight’s pilots failed the breathalyser, producing results which showed them exhibiting alcohol levels were decidedly beyond legally allowed margins.
The plane was immediately grounded and stopped from taking off, and the pilot was removed from the aircraft. Later, their licence was revoked.
A statement from the IAA read: “The IAA inspectors immediately gave an instruction that the aircraft would not take off and directed that the pilot be removed from the cockpit and prevented from operating the aircraft. The IAA subsequently issued appropriate proceedings in the Dublin District Court.
“The matter was reported to the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the FAA have advised that the pilot’s licence has been revoked. Therefore, the matter has now concluded. The IAA will continue to conduct unannounced checks on foreign aircraft operating into Irish airports and conduct breathalyser tests on flight crew, which includes pilots and cabin crew.”