Having read this thread from start to finish a couple of times it seems clear that the general feeling is
1. this used to happen quite regularly in the past. I personally heard of a 747 that left EDI one day after a rugby international with (allegedly) 14 people in the cockpit!!
2. The Captain made an unfortunate error of judgement and has paid a severe price
Anyone who knows this man will vouch for the fact that he is one of the nicest, most decent, helpful pilots who ever wore wings. That this should happen after such a long and distinguished career and within a couple of weeks of retirement is such a shame. If he was an
the situation would never have happened. It happened simply because he is such a decent genuine guy who would do anything to help a fellow crew member.
Why dont all you 'holier than thous' just leave it be. I, for one, would just like to wish Capt X a very happy retirement.
ps It must be time to chop this thread at this stage.