Just got back from Singapore about 20 minutes ago and had to put this up:
Cathay chief 777 pilot fired after low-level flypast stunt
By Nick Ionnides
The Aircraft in Question
Cathay Pacific
Boeing 777-367ER
B-KPF
More pictures at the Seattle-Deliveries blog.
on February 25, 2008 2:56 PM | Reply
Sad!!
The captain just wanted to salute the boeing employees and to promote his company by a
show off his livery..
on February 25, 2008 4:48 PM | Reply
The flyby was absolutely gorgeous.
The pilot should only get a blame, not dismissed.
Let's start a petition to defend him.
on February 25, 2008 6:12 PM | Reply
He's probably already interviewing at Emirates!
on February 26, 2008 4:53 PM | Reply
The captain appears to have experienced a Sudden Loss of Judgement.
Impromptu activities like this are inexcusable - expecially with passengers on board. They can (and have) led to disasters.
The airline management have taken appropriate action in the circumstances.
on February 27, 2008 4:06 PM | Reply
Flybys are great, but this low altitude subjects everyone on board the aircraft to unnecessary risk. Any misstep in the cockpit, even a wind gust at this altitude could have spelled disaster. Too low.
on February 28, 2008 1:43 PM | Reply
He did plan for it, and you can hear him state his intention to do a "low fly-by" in the audio on Matt Cawby's website:
http://microvoltradio.com/kpae86.htm
on March 25, 2008 1:02 AM | Reply
The fly-by was completely legal as far as the FAA is concerned. No laws were broken. The pilot was fired for not following company procedure.