DRINK JOYRIDE PILOT IS BANNED.Byline: JOE GORRODAN Army pilot who crashed on a helicopter joyride after a drinking session has been grounded for life. A court martial COURT MARTIAL. A court authorized by the articles of war, for the trial of all offenders in the army or navy, for military offences. Article 64, directs that general courts martial may consist of any number of commissioned officers, from five to thirteen, inclusively; but they shall not blamed him for a 2002 crash in Lough Foyle Lough Foyle (Loch Feabhail in Irish) is the name given to the estuary of the River Foyle. It starts where the Foyle leaves Derry. It separates the Inishowen peninsula from Northern Ireland. near Ballykelly, Co Derry. The official report said he was "disorientated due to a lack of attention to flight instruments" and added that he was probably distracted and fatigued under the influence of alcohol. An MoD spokesman said: "He was charged with destroying one of Her Majesty's aircraft." At the court martial the pilot admitted drinking between one and two glasses of wine at a social event five hours before the accident in the early hours of 19 July. He had taken off without authorisation and without being briefed. The Gazelle gazelle, name for the many species of delicate, graceful antelopes of the genus Gazella, inhabiting arid, open country. Most gazelles are found only in Africa, but several species range over N Africa and SW Asia; the Persian, or goitered, gazelle ( crashed on to mudflats 400metres from the shoreline and sank immediately. Both crew members were thrown clear still strapped to their seats. The co-pilot suffered serious back injuries and a broken leg. The pilot was only slightly hurt. They both swam to the shore. An Army spokesman said the rules about alcohol are clear - no drinking for 10 hours before flying. He said: "The pilot is still serving in the Army in a different role." |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion