easyJet pilot dismissed after incident at Cape Verde resort

An easyJet pilot has been relieved of his duties after being involved in an incident at a five-star resort in Cape Verde, where he was staying ahead of a flight back to the UK. The airline confirmed that the pilot has been "immediately removed" and that an internal investigation has been opened, stressing that the safety of passengers and crew is its top priority.

According to British press reports, the pilot arrived at the Melia Dunas Beach Resort and Spa in Cape Verde on August 4. During his stay, he began a drinking binge that lasted until the early hours of the morning. At around 2.30 a.m., he removed his clothes and entered the reception area, then went to the resort's gym and spa.

The pilot was scheduled to operate a flight back to Gatwick Airport in England on the afternoon of August 6, some 36 hours after the incident. However, a replacement pilot was assigned to the flight.

EasyJet, which operates direct flights from Gatwick to Cape Verde - the company's longest from England, with more than 2,300 nautical miles and an approximate duration of six hours -, did not comment on other details about the case.

The episode highlights the importance of crew discipline and responsibility, especially in popular tourist destinations such as Cape Verde, which receive long-haul international flights and thousands of visitors every year.