Easyjet pilot high on ecstasy banned from flying

A French pilot has been barred for life from flying planes after he admitted struggling to land a plane after taking ecstasy the night before. The father of three flies the 180 seat Airbus 320.

He was handed a twelve month suspended prison sentence yesterday.

Police discovered that he was the member of a small Parisian drug network after tapping conversations between members of the drug ring. The four members of the ring all received sentences between six months and three years.

Police played a recording at the hearing, in which the pilot said he had not anticipated the after-effects of the drug to last so long. "I had the sweats, I really didn’t feel well. I did what I could to land the plane,” the pilot said.

“I was confident the side effects would wear off after two hours,” he added. He is now reportedly seeking treatment.

“You were not in the physical state of a pilot who was clean of drugs,” said the prosecutor.

Easyjet said in a statement to Agence France Presse: “He has been removed from his position. The company has a zero-tolerance policy regarding drugs and alcohol. Pilots are subject to regular medical checks".