Flybe was right to sack both - rules tribunal
The employment tribunal hearing the case of Flybe pilots Captain Stephen Bird and First Officer Stephen Akers has ruled that Flybe was right to sack both of them - it's been announced today.
Both men , who are are in their 50s,had claimed unfair dismissal and had sat side-by-side during the three-day hearing earlier this year.
The row they allegedly had with each other was not captured on the cockpit voice recorder because it had been wiped on the return flight. Flybe had argued that said any breakdown in crew relationships caused a ‘potential risk to safety’ of passengers, crew and plane.
Captain Stan Wood, who led the inquiry into the bust-up, said it was completely inappropriate for the two pilots to fly back to England after such a heated row. He said: 'In my view, Stephen Bird did not act as a captain should have. As the captain and commander of the aircraft, he had ultimate control of the aircraft. Stephen Bird should have taken control of an aircraft on approach to landing. He chose to engage in the argument with Mr Akers which exacerbated the situation.
Akers claimed that some people in Flybe hated ‘ex RAF people’ and patronised and humiliated him.
Employment Judge Christopher Carstairs is to reveal what he calls "the tribunal’s full reasons for their decision" later but confirmed today that the unanimous judgement of the tribunal is that the respondent (Flybe Ltd) fairly dismissed the claimants.'
Last edited by korrol; 8th Aug 2012 at 15:29.