An easyJet flight captain has been suspended pending an investigation after reportedly wandering naked around a luxury hotel in Cape Verde following an all-night drinking session. The incident occurred at the Meliá Dunas Beach Resort and Spa on the island of Sal early last Tuesday.
According to witnesses cited by the Sun, the pilot, who has not been named, had been drinking at the hotel bar since the previous evening. At around 2:30am, he allegedly removed all his clothes and walked into the reception area before moving to the gym and spa. Witnesses described him as stumbling in a “paralytic” state.
The pilot had been scheduled to fly passengers from Cape Verde to Gatwick last Wednesday. However, after the incident, easyJet grounded him and arranged a replacement pilot. An easyJet source told the Sun: “Anyone who saw the pilot cavorting naked in the early hours on the day before a flight would not dream of getting on a plane with him at the controls.”
An easyJet spokesperson said: “As soon as we were made aware, the pilot was immediately stood down from duty, in line with our procedures, pending an investigation. The safety of our passengers and crew is easyJet’s highest priority.” EasyJet’s flights from Gatwick to Cape Verde are its longest from England, covering 2,332 nautical miles and taking about six hours.
