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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Pilot sacked after Savage visit | Pilot sacked after Savage visit |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| An airline pilot who let Premiership footballer Robbie Savage onto the flight deck has been sacked for breaking anti-terrorism rules. | An airline pilot who let Premiership footballer Robbie Savage onto the flight deck has been sacked for breaking anti-terrorism rules. |
| Former Gulf War RAF pilot Pablo Mason was dismissed by Mytravel after letting the midfielder near the controls in an effort to ease his fear of flying. | Former Gulf War RAF pilot Pablo Mason was dismissed by Mytravel after letting the midfielder near the controls in an effort to ease his fear of flying. |
| The Blackburn Rovers player had been travelling with his team on a private charter flight from Finland in August. | The Blackburn Rovers player had been travelling with his team on a private charter flight from Finland in August. |
| Cpt Mason, of Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, said he would appeal. | Cpt Mason, of Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, said he would appeal. |
| He admitted bending the rules but denied putting the flight at risk. | He admitted bending the rules but denied putting the flight at risk. |
| Fear of flying | Fear of flying |
| He said: "Yes I broke a rule. I did interpret the rule wasn't quite as strict for a private charter, which this was. Everyone on board knew each other." | He said: "Yes I broke a rule. I did interpret the rule wasn't quite as strict for a private charter, which this was. Everyone on board knew each other." |
| He said that he believed the experience had helped Savage, who also played for Birmingham City, Leicester City and Wales, with his fear of flying. | |
| Robbie Savage has a fear of flying | |
| He said: "I think above all his anxiety about flying has been relaxed in some way. | He said: "I think above all his anxiety about flying has been relaxed in some way. |
| "He knows a little more about how and why a modern airline gets into the sky and I think he sees the captain as being someone to trust and place his trust in." | "He knows a little more about how and why a modern airline gets into the sky and I think he sees the captain as being someone to trust and place his trust in." |
| Known for his trademark handlebar moustache, Cpt Mason carried out 23 bombing missions over Iraq during the first Gulf War before he left the RAF and became a passenger airline pilot. | Known for his trademark handlebar moustache, Cpt Mason carried out 23 bombing missions over Iraq during the first Gulf War before he left the RAF and became a passenger airline pilot. |
| He also began a fear of flying service for nervous passengers last year. | He also began a fear of flying service for nervous passengers last year. |
| A Mytravel spokesman said: "We have a zero tolerance policy towards any actions which could endanger the safety of our passengers and employees." | A Mytravel spokesman said: "We have a zero tolerance policy towards any actions which could endanger the safety of our passengers and employees." |
| A spokesman for Blackburn Rovers said: "The club and Robbie Savage sent a letter at the time to the airline authorities explaining our version of events." | A spokesman for Blackburn Rovers said: "The club and Robbie Savage sent a letter at the time to the airline authorities explaining our version of events." |