Cathay pilot fired for Top Gun Stunt

Would you really do that sort of thing with the chairman of Cathay Pacific in the plane . Maybe it was just a rush of blood to the head, maybe he watched Top Gun the night before:

Maverick: Tower, this is Ghost rider requesting a flyby.
Air Boss Johnson: That's a negative Ghost rider, the pattern is full. 

 

• Filed under: Cathay Pacific, fly by, pilot

As the 777-300 wingspan is 200 ft I would say the picture shows he is actually at around 25 m, but hyperbole aside : It looks a well-flown approach to me. He would probably have practised it many times beforehand in the simulator. As this was a few days after the BA777 crash at LHR, I happen to know he was showing his confidence in the aircraft. He was the 777 Fleet Manager with about 20 years plus in Cathay, so the chances are he knew all the other management involved. His big mistake was not giving himself written authorisation.

Here's the video of the stunt:

• Filed under: Cathay Pacific, fly by, pilot