British Cathay Pacific Pilot Fired for Low-Level, High-Speed Fly-By in 777

Editorial Staff

Monday, February 25, 2008 at 12:00 AM ET

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Key Takeaways:

A Cathay Pacific pilot was fired for an unauthorized, dangerously low-level, high-speed flyby of a new Boeing 777 during its delivery flight at the Everett plant.
The pilot flew the aircraft, carrying company officials, within 30 feet of the runway at over 300 mph.
Disciplinary action was initiated after a video of the incident went viral on YouTube, despite company officials initially celebrating the flight.
The airline stated that low fly-bys are permitted only with prior approval, which the crew failed to obtain in this case, leading to the pilot's termination and the first officer's suspension.

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A British Cathay Pacific pilot was fired after he did a low-level, high-speed flyby at the Boeing plant in Everett, Wash., last month while on a delivery flight of one of the airline’s new 777s. As the accompanying video shows, Ian Wilkinson took the aircraft, with company officials on board, within 30 feet of the runway at more than 300 mph. His first officer on the flight, Ray Middleton (who got suspended for six months), said the company officials toasted the flight with Wilkinson later and he believes nothing would have come of the whole thing if the video hadn’t made it to YouTube. Airline officials said low fly-bys are allowed, but only if the crew asks first, which apparently didn’t happen in this case.