A disturbing incident unfolded at a five-star resort when an EasyJet pilot, fresh from flying to Cape Verde (SID), was seen wandering through hotel public areas naked…just hours before he was due to operate the return flight.

EasyJet Pilot Suspended After Drunken, Naked Stroll Through Cape Verde Hotel

A veteran EasyJet captain checked into the Meliá Dunas Beach Resort & Spa on Sal Island after a flight on August 4, 2205. An all-night drinking session followed. Around 2:30 am on August 5th, guests witnessed him stripping naked and wandering through the hotel reception, bar, spa, and gym…completely unclothed and in a “paralytic state” according to one witness. A guest who had flown down from London Gatwick (LGW) recognized him and raised the alarm.

“The pilot did not have a stitch on and reeked of alcohol. Anyone who saw the pilot cavorting naked in the early hours on the day before a flight would not dream of getting on a plane with him at the controls.”

When EasyJet was alerted, the pilot was immediately suspended from duty, with a spokesperson emphasizing that the airline takes the safety of passengers and crew as its “highest priority.”

The scheduled route was a long-haul return from Cape Verde to London Gatwick, one of EasyJet’s longest flights at 2,332 nautical miles (over six hours). Even though the flight back was not for 36 hours (meaning, in theory, the captain was free to drink), the poor judgment shown by the captain called into question his fitness to fly.

But was that a fair punishment? European regulations require a minimum 12-hour gap between alcohol consumption and operating a flight. This incident occurred 36 hours before the flight.

Yes, folks. The punishment was fair. Even if this pilot complied legally, walking naked through guest areas represents a profound lapse in professionalism and trust. Per Easyjet, also breached the airline’s code of business ethics, which requires staff to behave “with integrity when dealing with our people, our customers, our partners and the communities within which we operate.”

CONCLUSION

Regardless of whether he was technically sober by the time of the flight, the pilot’s actions shattered credibility. No one wants to board a plane knowing the person at the controls was stumbling naked through the lobby hours earlier. EasyJet did the right thing by pulling him from service. The “bottle-to-throttle” window isn’t just about blood alcohol…it’s about judgment, composure, and safeguarding passenger trust.

image: EasyJet // Hat Tip: View From The Wing