Hoped To Ease Midfielder's Fear Of Flying

He was just trying to help... but a pilot flying for UK charter airline Mytravel is now without a job, after he allowed a well-known soccer player into the cockpit on a recent flight.

The BBC reports Captain Pablo Mason, a former RAF pilot, allowed Blackburn Rovers "footballer" (this means "soccer player," for our American readers; the rest of the world already knows that -- Ed.) Robbie Savage into the cockpit, in an attempt to ease Savage's fear of flying.

The incident occurred on a flight from Finland in August. Mason admits he broke rules aimed at preventing terrorism... but says his actions did not put the flight at risk.

"Yes I broke a rule," Mason said. "I did interpret the rule wasn't quite as strict for a private charter, which this was. Everyone on board knew each other."

Mason adds he believes the cockpit visit helped Savage feel a little more comfortable in an airplane... and he would know. The pilot, who flew 23 bombing missions during the first Gulf War, began a "fear of flying" seminar for fretful passengers last year.

"I think above all his anxiety about flying has been relaxed in some way," Mason said of Savage. "He knows a little more about how and why a modern airline gets into the sky and I think he sees the captain as being someone to trust and place his trust in."

As far as Mytravel is concerned, however, the ends did not justify the means. "We have a zero tolerance policy towards any actions which could endanger the safety of our passengers and employees," a spokesman said.

Mason plans to appeal the airline's decision.

FMI: www.mytravelairways.com/