is in the South ChIna MOrning Paper today...
Cathay Pacific sends pilot packing over Top Gun swoop
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Barclay Crawford
Updated on Feb 24, 2008
Flying a brand new Boeing 777-300ER on her maiden voyage from Boeing's Everett, Washington, plant to Hong Kong was obviously not enough of a thrill for Captain Ian Wilkinson.
So shortly after takeoff he turned the sixth purchase of the airline's new fleet around and swooped back to the ground to make a Top Gun-style, low-level fly-by of the Boeing factory.
But while the manoeuvre on January 30, only metres from the runway, might have wowed onlookers, senior Cathay Pacific figures - including chairman Christopher Pratt - aboard the flight were far from impressed.