The 50 year old Hovercraft pilot who was found to be three times over the alcohol limit whilst in charge of a passenger Hovercraft was sentenced to eight months at the Crown Court in Newport today.
There were 36 passengers on-board the Freedom 90 he was piloting, in sole control, from Southsea to Ryde on 22nd June 2014. The craft was capable of carrying 127 passengers.
It’s also emerged that he had carried out multiple journeys.
He was breathalised six hours later and arrested by police and charged on suspicion of being over the alcohol limit, to which he pled guilty.
Unusual behaviour
At a previous hearing the MCA barrister, Sunyana Sharma, stated the case as they understood it:-
During the journey it was observed that the pilot “was not himself”, that his reactions were slow on the crossing.
Another Hovertravel staff member noted that as the Pilot approached a tanker while crossing the Solent, the Pilot slowed, where it would be normal for the Hovercraft to maintain their current route and cross in front of the tanker.
As the craft approached the Ryde, it was also noted the pilot was not aligned with the landing pad but instead was heading for Ryde Pier.
Pilot collapsed
The Pilot then collapsed and the other staff members took control of the craft, while another pilot came on-board.
The 50 year old pilot was then carried out by a number of people.
The MCA said the incident was a risk to public safety.
At a previous hearing his legal representative said that the Pilot had “an unblemished character”.
Judges comment
Sentencing the Pilot, Judge Susan Evans said, “On that day you put in jeopardy the safety of passenger and crew. It was a gross dereliction of duty in my view.
“You had an impeccable work record before this incident. It is tragic that a person of your standing with an impressive career should have destroyed that in a single day”, reported the CP.
Update 15:53 : Added it was six hours later that the Pilot was breathalised, from the BBC.
Update 15:58: Added judges words, from the the CP,
Update 16:16: Added he’d flown multiple journeys while drunk, via MCA.
