BA pilot sacked for snorting coke from, err, well...and then trying to fly home.
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Aalborg
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Coke isn't like alcohol - you don't simply 'sleep it off'. In fact, it's a terrifically powerful stimulant to the point where 'sleep' is next to impossible. The 'high' is fairly short lived, but the stimulant effects mean that sleep in the next 12+ hours is very, very unlikely. I've heard of people going on coke benders that didn't sleep for multiple days.
So, best case, the pilot in question would have been heading out on a long-haul flight horribly fatigued.
So, best case, the pilot in question would have been heading out on a long-haul flight horribly fatigued.
ie. was he flicking every switch, dancing around the flight deck talking bollocks at a thousand words per minute so the Capt booted him off.
He’s been a very naughty silly boy and if he takes it on the chin and jumps over the hurdles that are quite rightly put in front of him, I can see him getting back into the flight deck in a few years once the dust has settled. No need to throw him to the wolves just yet - see how he bounces back. There’s a few pilots out there with a history still flying around that this group would have burned at the stake.
It was only a few years ago the flight deck were smoking away and having landing drinks before getting stuck into Deirdre and her mates down route for a few days. Not sure airline pilots can be described as Saints and claim the moral high ground as this thread would have us believe. How many have second or third wives a lot younger than them that were CC with a bit of a cross over period.
I would also suggest the reason BA haven’t instigated drug testing of every pilot in the company ASAP is they don’t want to see the results. A minority will fail as they would in any airline and that’s only more bad headlines.
To err is human and to forgive devine. (If he earns the forgiveness)
Not to condone the actions at all, but was he actually under the influence of the drug? Story reads like he had plenty of time to sleep it off. The test on arrival back home would have shown recent use but not impairment AFAIK.
Lack of judgement, absolutely, on many counts.
Ilegal, yes.
Operating (or attempting to operate) under the influence though? I'm not really convinced on that one.
Lack of judgement, absolutely, on many counts.
Ilegal, yes.
Operating (or attempting to operate) under the influence though? I'm not really convinced on that one.
I'd suggest the fact that he thought it was a good idea to send another member of the crew a text message announcing that he'd been taking Cocaine the night before is indicative of him being still under the influence.
As others have said - you don't just "sleep off" Coke. The effects of the drug itself and the secondary effects of your body whilst it recovers are significant and can run into days.
I really am struggling to understand the people that are trying to suggest this is not a big deal! Setting aside the drugs element (which I don't) he deserves to be sacked for being an idiot for boasting about it.
Thanks for the expert opinion but has anyone seen mention anywhere of evidence that he was actually impaired when he rocked up to work?
ie. was he flicking every switch, dancing around the flight deck talking bollocks at a thousand words per minute so the Capt booted him off.
)
ie. was he flicking every switch, dancing around the flight deck talking bollocks at a thousand words per minute so the Capt booted him off.
)
Thanks for the expert opinion but has anyone seen mention anywhere of evidence that he was actually impaired when he rocked up to work?
ie. was he flicking every switch, dancing around the flight deck talking bollocks at a thousand words per minute so the Capt booted him off.
ie. was he flicking every switch, dancing around the flight deck talking bollocks at a thousand words per minute so the Capt booted him off.
I'd think no sleep for over 36 hours would leave most people fatigue impaired - even if the effects of the coke had worn off (which is unlikely that they had).
That he was then stupid enough to brag about it to a fellow crew member just reinforces that he wasn't exactly firing on all cylinders...
The flight was cancelled before the crew left the hotel, none of the crew of the flight reported for duty that day.
It was only a few years ago the flight deck were smoking away and having landing drinks before getting stuck into Deirdre and her mates down route for a few days. Not sure airline pilots can be described as Saints and claim the moral high ground as this thread would have us believe. How many have second or third wives a lot younger than them that were CC with a bit of a cross over period.
To err is human and to forgive devine. (If he earns the forgiveness)
To err is human and to forgive devine. (If he earns the forgiveness)
