British Airways pilot jailed after turning up to work drunk

Julian Monaghan drank three double vodkas before boarding a plane to Mauritius

BY Emily Douglas 12 Jul 2018

A British Airways pilot has been jailed after turning up for work drunk.

Julian Monaghan drank three double vodkas before boarding a plane to Mauritius at Gatwick Airport. However, after colleagues smelt the liquor on his breath, they called the police and Monaghan was led away in handcuffs.

The judge presiding over the case mentioned that Monaghan had taken a risk, “but it didn’t pay off because you were caught”.

"You are in charge of a huge aircraft,” he continued. “The safety, if not the lives, indeed, of passengers and crew members are in the hands of the pilot. They are entitled to feel that they are safe."

Emlyn Jones, defence lawyer for Monaghan, added that her client has been “extremely stupid” and that he regretted his actions – BBC reports.

"Certainly, he will never fly as a commercial pilot again. His career and livelihood and personal and professional reputation are all up in smoke."

A British Airways spokeswoman said: "This behaviour is completely unacceptable and not what we expect from our highly professional fleet of pilots.

"The safety and security of our customers and colleagues is always our top priority."

Monaghan has been jailed for eight months.