A British Airways pilot, Mike Beaton, has been terminated from his position after reports surfaced that he allegedly snorted cocaine off a topless woman during a layover before attempting to operate a passenger plane.
Beaton, a married father from Devon, had been scheduled to fly from Johannesburg, South Africa, to London.
The incident came to light when Beaton reportedly boasted about his actions to a stewardess, who subsequently alerted authorities.
Following the report, Beaton was flown as a passenger back to Heathrow, where he later tested positive for drug use.
British Airways said in a statement, “Safety is always our top priority. The matter was referred to the CAA [Civil Aviation Authority] and this individual no longer works for us.”
A CAA spokesperson added, “An airline must immediately inform us if a UK pilot has misused drink or drugs boarding, or being on board, an aircraft. In these cases we would immediately suspend the pilot’s medical which means they cannot fly.
“In most cases the pilot would have an assessment with an expert medical team and if they wished to return to flying then a comprehensive rehabilitation programme would be put in place. At the end of that process the medical would only be reinstated if we were completely satisfied.”
Text messages shared by Beaton indicated that the incident occurred during his night off in Johannesburg. The texts described partying with local individuals and the consumption of Class A drugs.
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