Despite Criminal Convictions, Grant Craigie Claimed He Was Unfairly Fired

An embattled Air New Zealand pilot won't be flying for the company any time soon, after a government official refused to temporarily reinstate him. Capt. Grant Craigie is accused of assault and flying an amphibian without proper documentation, according to the Employment Relations Authority.

In refusing to reinstate Craigie until his hearing next year, the authority said safety was "a paramount consideration," according to documents obtained by the New Zealand Herald. Administrator Alastair Dumbleton said allegations surrounding Craigie's use of a flying boat without the proper documentation "struck at the heart of his employment relationship with Air NZ."

Dumbleton quoted the letter Air New Zealand sent Craigie when it fired him last September. The letter cited, in part:

• Your actions in April 2001 involving the operation of a home-built aircraft resulting in your conviction in December 2002.
• Your actions in June 1996 involving an incident ... which resulted in five police charges being made against you. Male assaults male, male assaults female, possession of a disabling substance and two counts of wilful damage to property.
•  Your actions on 27 December 2001 ... resulting in your conviction and sentencing for that assault in December 2002.

  

Although both assaults supposedly occurred outside the workplace, Craigie was wearing his uniform during one of them.

Craigie, a 737 captain and a 747 first officer, will go before an Employment Relations Authority hearing next year.

FMI: www.airnz.co.nz