Pilot sacked after fly-by prank ends up on internet

One of Britain's most senior airline pilots has been sacked for flying a passenger jet just 28ft off the ground as a stunt to entertain a group of VIPs.

Captain Ian Wilkinson was dismissed by Cathay Pacific after the low-flying manoeuvre, cheered by spectators, was posted on websites.



The footage shows the £100m jet swooping over the runway at Boeing headquarters in Seattle, Washington, USA, with its undercarriage raised.

The 55-year-old pilot was cheered by spectators and received a champagne toast reception after landing the 230-ton Boeing 777-300ER in Hong Kong. He was even pictured in Cathay Pacific's newsletter toasting the maiden flight with airline executives who had been on board. Among the 30 VIP passengers was Cathay Pacific's British chairman Chris Pratt.



But the fly-by manoeuvre had not been approved by the airline, although Wilkinson had cleared it with air traffic controllers in Seattle. He was suspended after the stunt appeared on the internet, and dismissed from his £250,000-a-year job at a disciplinary hearing last week. His co-pilot Ray Middleton, 47, who is said to have been unaware the fly-by was unauthorised, was suspended from training duties for six months.

Wilkinson, who was the chief pilot for the airline's 777 fleet, is reported to be considering an appeal against his dismissal. Another senior Cathay Pacific pilot told the Mail that Wilkinson might still be in post had his stunt not ended up on the internet.