SWEDEN: A Ryanair pilot who landed his plane too fast in what an air accident report described as a "serious incident", told investigators that he had marital difficulties at the time and had been suffering from "physiological and psychological fatigue".
On July 21st, 2004 the 38-year-old pilot was on his last trip for Ryanair, flying between London's Stansted airport and Skavsta near Stockholm, when the incident occurred as he landed at the Swedish airport. He was leaving Ryanair and was going to return to his native Australia within days.
He had begun his descent too late, and as a result flew the Boeing 737 "outside normal operator and manufacturer's parameters" as he came in to land.Despite this, the pilot landed the plane safely, which had 184 passengers and six other crew on board.
According to the report, the pilot said that he was having marital difficulties during the previous six months and his family had returned to Australia.
He said he now knew he should have called in sick, but he did not want to let the company down.
"I cannot understand what possessed me to continue the approach, I have replayed these events in my mind hundreds of times and at no instance do I arrive at the decision I took," he said.
"I can only imagine that certain personal stresses and tiredness affected my ability to think rationally. I do not offer this as an excuse but merely an insight into my deficiency for logical thought."
The report says it was "fortuitous" the landing was carried out safely. It said the pilot's behaviour was "irrational", contrary to his training and "inexplicable", even to himself.
A Ryanair spokeswoman said it had co-operated fully in the report and agreed with its recommendations, which have already been implemented.