EasyJet has suspended one of its captains following a shocking incident in which he was allegedly seen wandering completely naked and intoxicated through a five-star luxury hotel in Cape Verde, just days before he was scheduled to operate a return flight to Gatwick Airport.
According to multiple eyewitness accounts, the unnamed pilot had checked into the prestigious Melia Dunas Beach Resort and Spa in the West African island nation on 4 August, where he reportedly embarked on an extended drinking spree at the hotel bar. By the early hours of the following morning, 5 August, guests claimed to have seen him without any clothing, staggering through public areas of the resort in a drunken state.
Hotel visitors said the pilot, who was clearly under the influence of alcohol, entered the reception area around 2:30 a.m. local time (4:30 a.m. BST) before moving on to the gym and spa facilities. Witnesses described the incident as both disturbing and unprofessional, with one airline insider telling The Sun that the captain “reeked of alcohol” and was acting inappropriately in front of guests.
The same insider remarked that anyone who witnessed such behavior from a pilot would be deeply unsettled about boarding a flight under his command. The captain was originally scheduled to operate the 2,332-nautical-mile (4,318km) journey back to London Gatwick on the afternoon of 6 August. However, EasyJet swiftly replaced him after receiving complaints and confirmed he would not be flying the aircraft.
An EasyJet spokesperson stated: “As soon as we were made aware, the pilot was immediately stood down from duty, in line with our strict operational procedures, pending an internal investigation. The safety of our passengers and crew is EasyJet’s highest priority.”
The airline’s official code of business ethics emphasizes that all staff are expected to act “with integrity when dealing with our people, our customers, our partners, and the communities within which we operate.” The incident has now sparked an internal review into whether the pilot’s conduct violated company policy and professional aviation standards.
The event has also drawn renewed attention to the responsibilities of airline crew members, particularly those in command positions, whose behavior both on and off duty can impact passenger trust and airline reputation. EasyJet has not yet confirmed whether the captain will face disciplinary action or dismissal following the investigation.
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