You would expect a commercial pilot to be removed from duty after a serious flying mistake, an aircraft incident. Or a failed medical assessment.
But that isn't always what happens.
Some pilots have found themselves grounded over things they did away from the cockpit. One reportedly stripped naked at a hotel after drinking. Another allegedly left the cockpit door open so his family could watch him fly. And a United Airlines captain was taken off the flight roster after his social media comments about the October 7 attacks in Israel resurfaced.
I went through the details of all three cases. They make for unusual reading.
1. An easyJet Captain Reportedly Walked Naked Around a Hotel
Imagine checking into a luxury resort for a holiday. Only to end up losing your flying duties because of what happened there.
That is what reportedly happened to an easyJet captain in Cape Verde in August 2025.
Per The Sun, the pilot had been drinking at the Melia Dunas Beach Resort and Spa. At around 2:30 a.m., he allegedly removed his clothes and walked through the hotel's reception area before heading to the gym and spa.
The unusual part? He was due to fly holidaymakers back to London Gatwick roughly 36 hours later.
easyJet was informed and subsequently removed the pilot from duty. The airline arranged for another pilot to operate the return flight.
A spokesperson told Sky News:
“As soon as we were made aware the pilot was immediately stood down from duty, in line with our procedures, pending an investigation.”
The airline added:
“The safety of our passengers and crew is easyJet's highest priority.”
I don't know what happened during the airline's investigation. easyJet did not disclose its findings publicly. But has a takeaway. A pilot's conduct away from work can still attract the attention of an airline, particularly when a flight is approaching.
2. A British Airways Pilot Allegedly Left the Cockpit Door Open for His Family
This one concerns something every airline takes seriously. And that is cockpit security.
A British Airways pilot was suspended in August 2025 after allegedly leaving the cockpit door open during a flight from London Heathrow to New York JFK.
Why? His family members were travelling as passengers. As such, he wanted them to watch him operating the aircraft's controls.
Per The Sun, other crew members raised concerns about what had happened. Some passengers were reportedly alarmed, too.
The consequences were immediate. The pilot was suspended, and the return flight scheduled for August 8 was cancelled. Passengers were offered alternative flights.
A British Airways spokesperson told ITV News:
“Safety and security is our top priority and allegations of this nature are always fully investigated.”
Now, I understand wanting to share an interesting moment at work with your family. All the same. the flight deck is not a viewing gallery.
Commercial aircraft have strict cockpit access procedures for a reason.
There was also an important update.
The pilot eventually returned to flying. ITV News reported that an investigation found no security threat.
So, he was suspended. But the suspension did not become a permanent removal from flight duties.
3. A United Airlines Captain Was Removed From Duty Over Social Media Posts
A pilot's social media account can cause problems at work. Even when he is nowhere near an airport.
United Airlines captain Ibrahim R. Mossallam found himself at the centre of a controversy after a Facebook post about the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks on Israel circulated online.
In the post, Mossallam reportedly described the attacks as “resistance by a brave people.” He also suggested they were “not unprovoked.”
United removed him from flight duty with pay while it investigated the matter in 2023. He later returned to flying.
Then, in October 2026, the controversy resurfaced.
United confirmed that it had once again removed Mossallam from flight duty while conducting an internal review.
The airline told AeroTime:
“We have withheld this pilot from service pending an ongoing review.”
That is all United has publicly confirmed about the latest action. It has not explained what prompted the review or whether it relates to new social media activity.
There is another claim surrounding this case. Israeli journalist Libby Blanca Alon reported that two United pilots travelling as passengers gave up their first-class seats to sit in the cockpit during a flight operated by Mossallam.
They allegedly wanted to monitor him.
AeroTime reported the claim but noted that it had not been independently verified. The airline has not publicly confirmed it either.
So, I would not treating that allegation as fact.
The case raises questions about where an airline draws the line between an employee's personal views and professional responsibilities. Pilots have their own opinions, like everyone else. But airlines also have to consider whether an employee's public conduct creates a legitimate workplace or safety concern.
Professional acumen involves more than knowing how to operate an aircraft. Judgment matters, too. Still, a controversial post alone does not establish that a pilot is unsafe to fly.
For now, United has confirmed only that Mossallam is withheld from service pending its review.
Final Thoughts
One pilot reportedly got into trouble at a hotel. Another allegedly compromised cockpit security to give his family a view of the flight deck. And a third was removed from flying duties after his social media posts attracted renewed scrutiny.
None of these cases involved the usual image people have of a pilot being grounded after an aircraft incident.
And there is a difference between being suspended and being found guilty of misconduct. The British Airways pilot, for example, returned to flying after the investigation.
But airlines cannot ignore conduct that raises questions about safety, security, or professional standards. A pilot may be off duty. That said, the responsibility that comes with the job does not disappear when the aircraft lands.
