A pilot has been jailed after it was discovered that he lied on his CV in order to get a job at British Airways.
Craig Butfoy was found to have entered false details and changed entries into his flight log in order to lie about his flight experience.
The 49-year-old managed to become employed and keep his job at British Airways subsidiary BA CityFlyer, as well as ex-Irish regional airline StobartAir, according to the Civil Aviation Authority.
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He was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment at Snaresbrook Court in London this Monday (28 March), after he admitted to being guilty of two breaches of the Air Navigation Order (2016) and four counts of fraud at a previous hearing, the CAA said.
Butfoy, from Kent, said that he had flown 1,610 hours as a captain on his job application to work for the BA CityFlyer, based out of London City Airport.
He worked for the two airlines between April 2016 and March 2018.
The CAA’s general counsel Jonathan Spence said: “The Civil Aviation Authority’s prosecution and the sentence imposed show that offences of this kind are taken very seriously by the Civil Aviation Authority and the courts.
“Pilot integrity is at the heart of aviation safety and we will take all steps necessary to maintain that position.”
The court papers also stated that Butfoy had made up further details on his CV, including that he’d held a private pilot’s licence since 1998, and had submitted false documents such as a training course certificate.
British Airways insists that there was never any danger to passengers, and the pilot had a full pilot licence and certification.
The investigation, they said, pertained only to incorrect references and information provided by Butfoy.
BA added that Butfoy was suspended immediately and has not flown for them in several years.
On each flight there are two pilots, so he would never have operated on a flight alone, the airline also said.
It also pointed out that the company has worked closely with the CAA since then allegations were made.
A statement from British Airways reads: “The safety of our customers and crew is always our priority, and the fully qualified pilot was suspended and an investigation launched as soon as BACityFlyer became aware of discrepancies in his employment record.
“At no point was there any risk to customers or colleagues.”
StobartAir went under in June 2021 after financial problems caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Tom Wood